Southern California Desert Edition: Magazine of The West

MAGAZINE OF THE WEST
MARCH 1965
$314,650 IN GOLD NUGGETS FOUND ON DESERT
PALM SPRINGS INDIANS TODAY
DESERT WILD FLOWERS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DESERT EDITION

DEAL WITH
CONFIDENCE
Our Reputation Your Guarantee
"There is security, potential profit and pleasure in the right type of desert property"
HOMES * LOTS • RENTALS

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PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Conscientious service to buyer, seller or renter based

on years of sound business experience
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JACK PEPPER, Publisher CHORAL PEPPER, Editor
Elta Shively Al Merryman Rose Holly Marvel Barrett
Executive Secretary Staff Artist Circulation Manager Business Manager
National Advertising Representative
GEORGE R. JOSEPH CO.
3959 W. Sixth Street, Los Angeles, Calif. 90005 Telephone 387-7181
Desert Magazine, Palm Desert, Calif. 92260 Telephone 346-8144
CONTENTS DESERT is published monthly by Desert Magazine, Palm Desert, Calif. Second Class Postage paid at
Palm Desert, Calif., and at additional mailing offices under Act of March 3, 1879. Title registered
No. 358865 in U.S. Patent Office, and contents copyrighted 1964 by Desert Magazine. Unsolicited
manuscripts and photographs cannot be returned or acknowledged unless full return postage is enclosed.
Permission to reproduce contents must be secured from the editor in writing. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE:
$4.50 per year (12 issues) in the U.S.; $5.75 elsewhere. Allow five weeks for change of address, and
be sure to send the old as well as new address.
Volume 28 Number 3
March, 1965 Wlanck ... by #ack Peftyet

DURING THE SEASON, hundreds of visitors come to our office in
This Month's Cover Palm Desert and ask, "What is there to do and see around here other
Barrel Cactus in Bloom than date trees and golf courses?" As a result, we decided to put
By CHUCK ABBOTT
some of our answers into a SPECIAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DES-
ERT EDITION dedicated to revealing the exciting backcountry that
4 New Books for DESERT Readers surrounds the cosmopolitan community of Palm Springs. Although
the geographical area in this particular edition is confined, what is
7 I Follow the Wind true of Coachella Valley and Imperial Valley is true of all growing
By EUGENE McALLISTER
desert areas in the West. Each community is endowed with its own
9 Clues for Desert Living lore, history, and distinctive type of desert scenery. We hope this
By WELDON D. WOODSON special issue will inspire readers in other areas to look beyond their
own cities and highways and capture the great, free spirit that prevails
11 Sea Below the Sea throughout all desert regions of the West.
By JEANETTE CASKEY
13 Desert Dazzles Dudes

By RAYE PRICE
15 Of Mansions and Myths

By MARIE VALORE
17 Weaned on Wampum
from far away
By JACK DELANEY keyto our \ f a | | e y $
20 I Found Pegleg's Black Gold
23 Where the Wild Palms Grow

By RANDALL HENDERSON
27 Artist Reveals Desert's Treasure

By HENRY MOCKEL
30 The Coxcomb's Droopy Angel

By KENNETH MARQUISS
32 Trail Above the Tram

By ELWYN POLLACK
34 Hidden Spring
By WALTER FORD
Today, Colorado River waters
irrigate crop lands yielding $43,-
39 Desert Dispensary 000,000 yearly. Tomorrow, Feather
River water, contracted for by
By SAM HICKS CVCWD will supplement local
water supplies for homes and busi-
43 DESERT Cookery nesses to insure uninterrupted
growth of our valley.
By LUCILLE I. CARLESON
Box 1058 Coachella, California
46 Letters from our Readers Coachella Valley County Water District

March, 1965 / Desert Magazine / 3
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
about the desert
ON DESERT TRAILS by Randall Henderson, foun-
der and publisher of Desert Magazine for 23
years. One of the first good writers to reveal DESERT ANIMALS IN JOSHUA and life afloat. Gardner has found
the beauty of the mysterious desert areas. Hen-
derson's experiences, combined with his com- TREE NATIONAL MONUMENT his houseboat the water's answer to
ments on the desert of yesterday and today, By Alden H. Miller and campers and trailers—maneuverable,
makes this a MUST for those who really want Robert C. Stebbins roomy and comfortably isolated from
to understand the desert. 375 pages, illustrated.
with illustrations by Gene Christman traffic problems and noise. For the
Hard Cover. $5.00. past two summers he has moved his
Here is a book we've been waiting office staff to a fleet of vessels on
THE NORTH AMERICAN DESERTS by Edmund C.
Jaeger. A long-time authority on all phases of
for, and we aren't disappointed. Writ- the delta where business mixes with
desert areas and life, Dr. Jaeger's book on the ten by naturalists as a result of 15 cat fishing, visiting, and relaxing.
North American Deserts should be carried years of continuous observation, its
wherever you travel. It not only describes each colored illustrations and fine photos Anyone who overworks or has
of the individual desert areas, but has illus-
make it one of the most outstanding trouble unwinding will relax just
trated sections on desert insects, reptiles, birds, reading this book and, no doubt, the
mammals and plants. 315 pages, illustrated of desert nature books—and the only
photographs, line drawings and maps. Hard one pertaining to this particularly way of life it portrays will find a
Cover. $5.95. rich area. number of converts among desert
dwellers seeking a new way to escape
THE DESERT IS YOURS by Erie Stanley Gardner. As the authors point out, desert summer heat. It's a lazy, restful sort
In his latest book on the desert areas of the animal life is often overlooked by the of book, lacking the electric vitality
West, the author again takes his reader with
him as he uses every means of transportation to
casual visitor because he hasn't de- we associate with Erie Stanley Gard-
explore the wilderness areas and sift the facts veloped his powers of observation. ner's desert and Baja adventures, but
and rumors about such famous legends as the This isn't hard to do, however, once the great Gardner warmth comes
Lost Arch, Lost Dutchman and Lost Dutch Oven
mines. 256 pages, illustrated. Hard cover. $7.50.
you are acquainted with the habits of through strong—especially in his de-
desert wild life. Then you know to scription of the croaking catfish that
ANZA-BORREGO DESERT GUIDE by Horace Par- look after dark for kangaroo rats, to won liberation for its species forever-
ker Second edition of this well-illustrated and expect bats near water sources where
documented book is enlarged considerably. Tops more, as far as the Gardner crew is
among guidebooks, it is equally recommended they make their evening flights, and concerned. This you must read to
for research material in an area that was crossed to watch for snakes absorbing body believe, but it's true!
by Anza, Kit Carson, the Mormon Baftalian, '49ers, heat from warm pavements. Coyotes
Railroad Survey parties, Pegleg Smith, the Jack-
frequent roadsides after dark because Hardcover, packed with exciting
ass Mail, Butterfield Stage, and today's adven- photos, and 160 pages. $5.00.
turous tourists. 139 pages, cardboard cover. they are addicted to chasing rodents
$2.95. May be ordered from DESERT Magazin attracted to the highways by the
Book Dept.
lights of your cars. Birds are early Books reviewed may be ordered
risers and the Joshua Tree area boasts from the DESERT Magazine Book
THE OREGON DESERT by E. R. Jackman and Order Department, Palm Desert.
R. A. Long. This book is a hard one to define. a varied supply. Loon, grebe, heron,
A single paragraph may be a mixture of geo- egret, hawks, eagles, quail, doves, road- California 92260. Please include
logy, history, biography and rich desert lore.
runners, owls, poorwills, and hum- 25c for handling. California resi-
The only complete book about the Oregon desert,
mingbirds are only a few of those de- dents must add 4% sales tax.
the material applies equally well to other des-
erts of the West. The humor and fascinating scribed and illustrated in this won- Enclose payment with order.
anecdotes coupled with factual background anc
unusual photos, including color, make it excel-
derful book. Chapters on mammals,
lent reading material even for those who may amphibians, and reptiles are also in- DOGS ON THE FRONTIER
never visit Oregon. 407 pages, illustrated. Hard cluded, with their identifying tracks, By John E. Baur
Cover. Third printing, $6.50. breeding habits, and racial affinities Dogs played an astonishing part
PAINTERS OF THE DESERT by Ed Ainsworth. A
fully discussed. in the winning and settling of the
beautifully illustrated and well-written roundup Hardcover 451 pages, this book West. They were the only domestic
of 13 of the desert's outstanding artists—Dixon should be owned both for reference animals owned by Indians when
Forsythe, Swinnerton, Fechin, Eytel, Lauritz, Buff and pleasure by every lover of wild Cabeza de Vaca and Coronado ar-
Klinker, Perceval, Hilton, Proctor, McGrew, anc
Bender. Folio size, gold-stamped hard cover
life on the desert. $10.00. rived, bringing their own. Some
Full color reproductions. 125 pages. $11.00. tribes ate dogs, others considered
THE WORLD OF WATER them poison. Some sacrificed them in
THE VOICE OF THE DESERT by Joseph Wooc
Krutch. This book explores the intriguing vari By Erie Stanley Gardner rituals.
ety of life on the Sonoran and Southwest des
After exploring the desert, back- Dogs accompanied the Lewis and
erts by one of the country's most distinguishec Clark expedition, as well as every
writers. Covers flora, fauna, and philosophy country of Baja California, and crime
223 pages, hardcover, $5.00. with Perry Mason, Erie Stanley Gard- wagon train, prairie schooner ,and
ner—whose books have outsold those gold rusher to travel west of the Mis-
THE GREAT CALIFORNIA DESERTS by W. Storr
of any other writer alive today—has sissippi. These pioneer dogs encoun-
Lee is rich in folklore, drama and history o
desert regions from Death Valley to Imperia taken to the water. This new book, tered grizzlies, mountain lion, and
Valley and from the Spanish explorers up tc written aboard Gardner's houseboat jaguars. They accompanied white
the present. Good reading. Hardcover, 30( on the Sacramento River Delta, tells men hunting for deer, antelope, jave-
pages, $5.95.
of his new-found hobby of relaxation linas and wild turkeys. They carried
. . . a state he has never been able mail, warned of Indian raids, and
Order from: to achieve anywhere else. herded cattle. And always the courage
DESERT Magazine Book Department and loyalty of this beloved animal
Palm Desert, California 92260
Threaded with, 1000 miles of proved its usefulness.
Include 25c for postage and handling. rambling waterways, the delta coun
California residents add 4% sales tax. try is rich with lore, sport fishing, Although the dog was found here
4 / Desert Magazine / March, 1965

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Today and Yesterday
tEARN ABOUT THE COLORFUt GHOST
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P.O. Box 757 Palm Desert, California Highway 111 Palm Desert, Calif. Palm Desert, California

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Sooner or later even the most ardent sun-lover runs for the shelter of
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Blow fiercely, desert wind, BY EUGENE McALLISTER

Sift the dune sands well tonight; whose fine collection of arrowheads
Then tomorrow whisper softly found near Salton Sea are on loan
Over treasures brought to light. to the Palm Springs Desert Museum.
T 'HE WIDE distribution of Indian arrowpoints

throughout the United States, is matched only by
that of the social security check.
Valley. There, near the confluence of San Felipe and
Fish Creeks, torrential rains and violent winds have
erased long stretches of this ancient landmark. It is
For centuries these historic missiles were sent flying there that for centuries the relentless winds have scoured
in the direction of birds and beasts. Pioneers, cavalry- a broad barren plain, created huge sand dunes and
men, cowboys and rival tribesmen have served as targets. then destroyed or remodeled them and created others.
Millions shared the graves and funeral pyres of the In the long process, artifacts left by the ancient ones
departed. Millions more were simply discarded in favor have been alternately hidden and revealed.
of the rifle. The Antiquities Laws forbid the disturbance of pre-
People react to them in a variety of ways. The arche- historic sites. I have profound respect for these laws.
ologist wants to know where, when and by whom they It has been my privilege to rescue and preserve approxi-
were used. His great-great grandfather may have this matey 150 arrowpoints in the area described. They are,
information, acquired the hard way. Modern boys and without exception, what the archeologist refers to as
girls, young and old, influenced no doubt by studies of "surface finds." All were exposed by wind and water
the American Indian in the classroom, and further con- erosion. They will eventually be placed on display
ditioned by TV Westerns, look longingly at museum col- in a California museum. I do not buy, sell or exchange.
lections and wish they could find some of these fascina- On a recent trip to the desert I made the following
ting relics of the past. observations: A large gravel pit now marks the spot
where point #1 was found near Travertine Rock. An-
The extent to which they have been scattered over other such plant is in operation in close proximity to
one small segment of the desert Southwest, has been the place where point #2 lay undisturbed for genera-
of particular interest to me. During the past fifteen tions. Near Truck Haven, an arrow's flight from High-
years I have spent hundreds of vacation hours exploring way 99, marks the scene of #3's discovery. Here too the
a comparatively narrow ribbon of land which marks the ancient shoreline is being threatened by the march of
shoreline of ancient Lake Cahuilla, the remnant of civilization. A large, flat boulder with a very deep
which has long been known as California's Salton Sea. mortar in its center remains to indicate long occupancy
Starting in the vicinity of Travertine Rock, where of the site in some remote age.
the markings of this ancient shoreline are strikingly Just beyond Salton City, an airfield blocks access to
etched on nearby hills, I have followed its winding path the spot where point #4 lay surrounded by the resting
as it roughly parallels Highway 99, and swings west remnants of shell casings on a World War II bombing
to eventually cross Highway 78, in the Lower Borrego range. To the north of Highway 78, near San Felipe
Wash, #5 and #6 lay in an area torn
up by haphazard digging and the
deep tracks of dune buggies.
Friends frequently ask, "How do
you know where to look for these
things?" and "Are they all this per-
fect?"
I discovered my first point in the
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region. From then on it was a simple
matter to estimate distances, fill my
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trips.
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Clues to Desert Living from a Lizard
by Weldon 0. Woodson
OHOULD KING Solomon be alive up green life, he resembles a man coyote, fox, eagles and hawks. A half-
today and vacation in Palm Springs, huddled in an oversized overcoat. eaten body of a large female was dis-
California, he might well advise, "Go Then he skulks to his winter quar- covered in a prairie falcon's nest.
to the chuckwalla, thou sluggard." ters to stay until Spring. When maimed, as from the loss of
In the world of man, color plays two feet, the creature still manages
This lizard, whose habitat includes to survive because he does not have
the Palm Springs area, has adapted a paramount role concerning his well-
being. To keep him warm, he wears to light for his food.
himself to the rigors of the desert in
a marvelous manner. There's a lot clothing that is black, for black ab- More typical defense stratagem,
we can learn about the manner in sorbs heat. So that he may be cool however, begins with his fleeing and
which he copes with aridity and heat. he dons garments of white, since white ensconcing himself in his rock fissure
reflects heat. Psychologically, the tem- home or, if too closely pursued, wrig-
Cloaked in a rough, baggy skin, perature of a room can be raised up to
the adult chuckwalla reaches a length 10° by painting a wall a warm color. gling into the nearest convenient
of 18 inches, a width of four inches. Color also has a bearing on the chuck- crack. When entering, his hide is
Ol tliis country's lizards, he is ex- walla. Like the chameleon, his color loose, but once safe, he inflates him-
ceeded in si/e only by the Gila mon- changes in response to variations in self like a_ balloon. Should you try to
ster. He abounds in southeastern light, temperature and movements. A extract him, his larger size bars him
California, southern Nevada, south- dark brown lizard asleep at night may from being hauled out of the open-
western Utah, western Arizona, north- turn a lemon yellow by high noon. ing which he so easily entered.
ern half of Baja California and north- Because he assumes the color of his To merely say that he swells up,
western Sonora. surroundings, it is difficult for his of course, does not explain how this
enemies to detect him among the is accomplished. For this, we must
During the 100 or more degree rocks where he generally makes his
heat of summer, many desert shop- consult scientist G. W. Salt, who
home. Often he is blackish, but his technically but revealingly described
keepers padlock their stores until color may be purple, dull, rusty brown
October, when the days grow cooler the intricate procedures involved:
or other somber hues. The female is "When inflating, the chuckwalla ap-
and winter residents return. Likewise frequently a gray-white. The tail of
the chuckwalla's appearance also is pears to inhale to the normal point.
the chuckwalla is usually lighter than The animal then makes a series of
seasonal, although not corresponding the rest of the body and girdled by
with that of man. After hibernating swallowing motions during which it
broad black bands. appears to force air down the trachea
in rock fissures throughout the win-
ter, the chuckwalla emerges with the In Southern California he has been with the tongue. During the swallow-
desert flowers in the Spring. When called "alderman lizard" the Mor- ing, it appears that the tongue is held
he makes his debut, his hide is shrivel- mons of Utah call him "alligator," over the internal nares, sealing the
ed from days of fasting. Each tidbit,1 and in the Colorado Desert his name mouth cavity.
however, pumps nourishment into has been perpetuated in the Chuck-
his almost lifeless carcass, and shortly "At the end of each swallow, the
walla Mountains, "chuckawalla" be- animal presses the end of the glottis
it expands to its normal girth. ing an older spelling of "chuck- between the tongue and the roof of
He remains fat as long as there is walla." the mouth to prevent deflation. With
vegetation. But once the heat burns His natural enemies include the the lungs thus closed, he takes on an-
»T<Vfets>
•>-;••?-.:

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ATTENTION CAR DEALERS—Add DATSUN to your 1405 S. Long Beach Blvd., Compton, Calif.
present line, inquire on a DATSUN Dealer Franchise! Telephone. 632-9096
other mouthful of air and repeats the is man. Harmless, he nevertheless has bleached skeleton's of the creatures
process. had his numbers decimated. One re- revealed to what exieni mankind will
"In super-inflation, there is an in- port stated: go to appease his lust lor thrills."
crease of 300% in the lung volume, "Recently, I took a trip to some The Shoshones, Cahuillas and their
with a similiar increase of 58% in of the habitats of the chuckwalla and near cousins, the Paiutes, regarded
the torso volume." found that persons had used the the chuckwalla not as an enticing
As with many other creatures, the lizards for target practice, and in not animal whose habits are worthy of
chuckwalla's most dangerous enemy a few instances had hit the mark. The observation, but as an item ol lood.
Roasted over hot coals, his tender,
white flesh tastes like chieken.
Finest Camper Ever Made! Mating of the chuckwalla occurs
from May to July. When a male, the
MACDONALD larger of the sexes, chooses a female
and a rival male encroaches, or
basks too closely, a battle takes place.
'Kit Approaching each other and employ-
ing the tail as a weapon, they throw
it irom side to side with an audible
JUST A FEW HOURS with simple hand "thump" against the other's body
tools and you'll own the finest camper until one of the two weakens and re-
of its class! Everything is supplied treats.
with easy to follow instructions . . . After the nuptials, the female de-
anyone can assemble it! posits the eggs, six or seven, in a
rock crevice. The hatchlings are
miniatures of their mother, except
FACTORY ASSEMBLED CAMPERS AVAILABLE lor their color, which is a splashy
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with Door Support, Chrome Lock • the Camper Kit. DM 2
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equipped him splendidly. He has
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ADDRESS __
survival, whether it pertains to lizard,
light • All Screws, Bolts, Molding. man or any other form of life, is the
CITY _ ZONE...PHONE supreme achievement. ///

X HE MOST paradoxical body of in the flight pattern of the migra- too bad, but sometimes the wind
water in the Southwest is that of the tory birds and each year thousands comes up so last this is impossible.
Salton Sea. Here is a lake in which of ducks, geese, doves and quail make It's like going through a sandblast-
fish eat grass and have gizzards like the Salton Sea a hunters' haven. ing machine—and awfully hard on
birds (mullet) , where wood sinks Nearby is an artesian well so hot it insurance companies that cover autos.
(ironwood) , rocks float (pumice), has to be collected in huge catch Summers are hot and algae that col-
and where, when the temperature is basins before it is cool enough for lects along the shoreline of the lake
120 degrees in the shade, CO 2 gas bathing. Its mineral water is bene- grows hideously fragrant, but it
at a minus zero temperature bubbles ficial to arthritis sufferers and a spa doesn't seem to bother the water
up through the warm water. is planned on the premises. skiers, fishermen and boaters who
zip across its surface every month of
Originally called the Salton Sink, Because of the wonderful fertile the year. The Salton Sea regatta is
it was also once known as Blake Lake soil around the sea and the mild held there and often r e c o r d s are
in honor of Professor William Blake climate, crops may be harvested sev- broken. Due to lack of altitude, boats
who in 1853 surveyed the area. Ap- eral times annually. This has made can make better time.
proximately 35 miies long and vary- Salton Sea's Imperial Valley famous
ing from 8 to 17 miles wide, it rests as America's Salad Bowl. Fresh water Barnacles were brought in on the
235 feet below sea level. A sportsman's brought from the All-American Canal sea-planes during the war. Up to that
bonanza, it is stocked by the Fish and irrigates far-reaching fields of lettuce, time the water was clear, but now
Game Division with corvina, sargo, celery, tomatoes, beans, oranges, barnacles cover every rock and twig.
perch and forage fish. The mullet lemons, grapefruit, avocadoes and Examine a handful of sand along the
were already there. Recently a cor- grapes. Anything and everything shore and you will see millions of
vina was caught that weighed 13 grows there, including cotton and liny sea shells smaller than the head
pounds and 12 ounces. The happy alfalfa. The annual value of the agri- of a pin. These came from the gulf
fisherman was presented with a nice cultural crop is over $160 million. during one of the ancient floods and
prize at the Fisherman's Derby held add to the curious beauty of the
in the summer. On the heavier side, the weather place.
can change from calm to a churning,
Part of Salton Sea is reserved for howling dust storm in minutes. Usu- Distances in the clear air are de-
a bird refuge. The sea lies directly ally the roads are closed when it gets ceiving, especially from the water. A
The Sea Below the Sea

by Jeanette Caskey
Mudpots of the Salton Sea were covered, but their toiuers are beginning to rebuild

swimmer can be pretty disturbed where mineral springs release jets of a lake without an outlet. Time and
when he discovers he is making little steam and sulphurous gases. As Sal- time again this happened. Flash
headway wh/ile swimming for the) ton Sea filled, it gradually covered floods washed the sand away and let
shore, although it is easier to stay them, but the silt continues to build the gulf back into the lake, then the
afloat in the salt water. the mud columns and they are be- silt dam reformed to cut off the salt
coming visible again. sea and refill the lake with fresh
There are many artesian wells water. This prehistoric lake was call-
around the valley, some cool and Some million years ago, geologists ed Lake Cahuilla. Fossil deposits
some hot mineral water. At the sou- tell us, the Gulf of California came have been found as high as 1000 feet
thern end at Niland there was a up to what is now San Gorgonio Pass above the floor of the desert and light
plant commercially producing "dry just north of Palm Springs. The streaks on the sides of the mountains
ice" during the war. This pure Colorado River, which carved out the show ancient shorelines. Even today
carbon dioxide still comes shooting Grand Canyon, washed down silt fossil beds with petrified oyster shells,
out of the mud pots. This is an area which built up a dam, cutting off the sharks teeth, and fragile conch shells
of boiling mud craters and geysers upper end of the gulf and forming glisten in the sun. Conch shells were
so numerous that the valley was
originally called Conchilla Valley,
IMPERIAL
but due to an error in spelling it is
now called Coachella Valley. There
are other explanations for its name,
but this is the popular one.
VALLEY
Cahuilla Indians once gathered
and held pow-wows on its shores.
Their fish traps, an ingenious device
to trap the fish and keep them alive
until wanted, may still be seen.
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA The present depth ol the sea is
kept approximately constant, despite
NEW Vacationland evaporation which occurs during sum-
mer months, when water draining
of the Old West! from the irrigation ditches and the
New and Alamo River empties into
Warm desert sunshine—a recreation the southern end.
paradise — CAMPING • PICNICK-
ING • BOATING • FISHING Before 1905, a 25-foot thick slab
of salt was mined for commercial
HUNTING • SWIMMING—a desert
purposes. This salt crust was the rea-
full of GEMS, SHELLS and FOSSILS. son for the name "Salton Basin." Then
EASIEST and CLOSEST ROUTE to water from the flood of 1907 covered
OLD MEXICO. everything, including the salt works.
On a clear day old timers could row
MODERN, NEW AND INEXPENSIVE their boats over their flooded village
ACCOMMODATIONS IN BRAWLEY, and point down, saying "That's
CALEXICO, CALIPATRIA, EL CENTRO. where we used to live before the sea
HOLTVILLE, IMPERIAL, WESTMORLAND. came back. That's where the salt
works were."
FREE 36-Page Tour Guides with detailed Today, travelers come from miles
Trips to fascinating places, plus other around to see the display of spring
brochures for family fun! wildflowers which bloom earlier than
elsewhere and a stream of boat
Current Events trailers and campers line the freeways
leading to it each month of the year.
SWISS SCHWINGFEST Southwest Salton Sea is a true mecca for artists,
Dancing, Wrestling INDIAN POW-WOW boat and ski enthusiasts, swimmers,
Indian Dances c a m p e r s, rockhounds, geologists,
Native Swiss Costumes fishermen, hunters, golfers and trea-
MARCH 28 MARCH 27 and 28 sure hunters. There are still rumors
HOLTVILLE WINTERHAVEN of buried treasure in its mountains.
Or, it is a place just to laze and rest
and soak up sunshine.
Write:
Imperial Valley Development Agency, Drawer I.V., Imperial, Calif. A golden dream of men 50 years
ago made this agricultural valley pos-
Please send the following checked items: sible. Did they envision sea-planes
• "New Vacationland of the Old West" and motor boats on their beloved
• Events Calendar • 36-Page Tour Guide sea? Did they dream that one day it
• Rockhound Map • Climate Folder D Fishing would became a desert playground?
Name . Only a short time ago, it seems,
Street tourists inquiring for directions to
City -State, Salton Sea were usually told, "You
can't get there from here." ///

Desert Dazzles Dudes
by Raye Price
TO Palm Springs for golf. State Highway 71 junction, we drove
Come for tennis, swiming, or just to to the Terwilliger turnoff and then
escape cold weather. Come for any threaded back down to the desert,
reason at all, but whatever you do, watching for a dirt road marked!
don't leave without treating yourself Coyote Canyon.
to a real look at the desert. Up until now, we wondered why
It wasn't long ago that my husband, the fuss about 4-wheel drive. The
Dick, and I considered the desert tol- Coyote Canyon truck road wasn't
erable only for speeding through to- bad, considering the weather was dry,
ward the coast in an air-conditioned and we rode comfortably as we mar-
car. When passing small settlements, veled at brilliantly colored rock for-
we wondered how anyone could stand mations along the way. (There was
the desolate view and lack of activity. color in the desert after all, we admit-
We sighed over the monotony of ted.) We came to a gate that barred
cacti, which all looked alike. Then the road, but a local rancher assured
DESERT'S Choral and Jack Pepper us it was permissable to pass through
tossed us the keys to their 4-wheel as long as we closed it afterward to
drive vehicle and things changed; we protect grazing cattle. As we pushed
we were going to follow them in deep into Coyote Canyon, it became
their Volkswagen into the Anza-Bor- obvious why passenger cars are im-
rego desert. practical here. Rocks tumbled across
ted for the first time the variety the faint trail with the abandon of
Winding up the Pines-to-Palms among cacti. Then, with increased an earthquake and several times we
Highway where towering agave elevation, greasewood, manzanita and had to pull the Peppers out of deep
mingle with spiny ocotillo and de- sage took over and finally, higher in sand.
ceptively fluffy cholla, we apprecia- the Santa Rosas, oak and pine. At
Luckily we'd tucked a copy of Hor-
ace Parker's Anza-Borrego Desert
Guide Book into our pocket before
leaving, so when we came upon a
monument dedicated to the first
white child born in California, we
were able to read about her mother
and other colonists led by Anza
through this canyon in 1775. That
this was California's first white child
has been refuted, but the courage
of those early travelers remains irrefu-
table. Checking further into the
guide book, we learned that the can-
yon was a popular haven for Indians
and a pioneer trail route because of
its year-round water supply. We
questioned the existence of such a
miracle, but, before we knew it, we
were driving hub-deep in the stream.
A jungle of willows and salt brush
shaded us while we stopped to refresh

ourselves. From that point on, the
stream bed became our road, some-
"SINCE 1 9 3 1 " times running with water, other times
suddenly disappearing to return
again. Driving became tricky, but we
enjoyed the challenge.
Although the area was primitive,
jfh Travel Trailer we weren't alone. Meeting a jeep-ful
of exporers, we heard that there were
ELEVEN MODELS 1 3 FT. TO 3 5 FT. Indian caves and grinding holes call-
ed metates up ahead. "Follow us,"
PROTECT YOUR HEALTH they said, and we toured into a moun-
MODEL 19 with WATER-GARD purifier;
tain of boulders to spend lunchtime
STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON AIL
picking up cherts and quartz crystals,
Write for free literature SELF-CONTA.NED MODELS
exploring caves for ollas, and exam-
TRAVELEZE TRAILER CO., INC. •».. D ing inetates worn into blocks of stone.
11473 Penrose Street Sun Valley, California TRiangle 7-5587 By then, desert lore had captured us.
We visualized Indians huddled in
caves or sitting atop boulders grind-
ing their food. Someone mentioned
lost gold mines and Dick and I be-
lieved we'd found one in an out-crop-
ping of cjuartz under a huge boulder
split like a whale with its mouth
open. The gold turned out to be
mica, but at least we'd experienced a
Hash of discovery.
As shadows lengthened, we charged
ahead until our trail bogged deep
with sand. Reading the guide book,
we learned that this vast area was
once a sea. In our imaginations the
dead ocotillo became giant squid and
tangled roots turned into driftwood.
It was eerie in the sunset, with the
sand burning pink like an ocean of
lire.
Tales of the ever-changing desert
are quite real. We'd been hooked.
Already we were talking about a trip
in the spring to see cactus abloom and
the desert wild with flowers. Having
experienced the variety of desert
changes in only one day, we could
hardly wait to see what two months
would do.
Returning to the highway at Bor-
rego Springs, we located the Borrego
Valley Jeep Rental service. Next trip,
we'll rent one of their seven lavender
jeeps and do a bit of exploring on
our own. Anyone over 21 may rent
jeeps at 53.00 per hour plus gas,
S20.00 a day, or $35.00 for two days.
Located on the Borrego Valley Road,
the service is operated by Mae and
Dick Turpin, who leave their home
in Alaska and head for the desert
each fall. They will suggest points of
interest or furnish maps to their cli-
ents and even give tips on driving
through river bottoms if you're uneasy
away irom paved roads.
So, when you come to the desert

on your next vacation, don't be
fooled by a mirage of dun-colored
Santa Fe Federal Savings O C I A T I O N
sand. Rough-it a bit and take a sec-
ond look. You'll go home part desert
C H A R T E R E D I I t 0 rat, too! ///
The Estudillo mansion
Riverside County's oldest school.
Vosburg's early New England hotel.

MUM •;
by Marie Valore
Of Mansions and Myths

A L T H O U G H NESTLED under in 1870 by Procco Akimo, a Russian dollars an acre. These latter trans-
Southern California's second highest exiled from his native land during actions are reputed to have been ne-
mountain range, San Jacinto's white the Tsarist tenors of the 1800s. gotiated to raise money to subsidize
liame buildings and tree-fringed Prior to that it was the site of Jusipah lavish parties the family loved to
streets remind New Englanders of Village, one of the seven Indian throw.
home. Why this influence should rancherias of the San facinto Valley,
After the earthquake, a pair of
have happened to the oldest town in and, later, an outpost and stock
twin mansions were built by two of
Riverside County—and one establish- rancho of the vast San Luis Re)' Mis-
the Estudillos which were—and still
ed by a Russian exile at that—is a sion.
are—the showplaces of San Jacinto.
paradox. Somewhere along the line There is a rumor that a third exist-
a Yankee must have drifted in. Probably the town's most illustri-
ous early citizens were members of ed which was destroyed by fire, but
Perhaps he was an early member the Jose Antonio Estudillo family visitors today may still drive by two
of the Lockwpod family who in 1886 whose Spanish land grant of 1842 of the two-storied red brick houses
built the Pioneer Hotel which still covered an area now occupied by with sprawling gardens, wide bal-
does business today. Or, more likely, both San Jacinto and Hemet, a town conies and cupolas on their roofs.
he was an ancestor of the Vosburgs, several miles to the south. Don Jose
whose charming New England-style One is located across the street
Estudillo lived in San Diego's old from the San Jacinto Packing Com-
hotel has been owned and operated town himself, but he built several
by the Vosburgs since it was establish- pany and is presently owned by the
adobe mansions in San Jacinto for McLeods who live in quarters in the
ed in 1885. Whatever, this serene, members of his family. These were
dignified town, within an hour's rear. A greenhouse and white barn
later destroyed in an earthquake, but are contained within the fenced estate
drive from Los Angeles to its west or local lore holds their locations respon-
Palm Springs to its east has a charac- and the house is almost hidden by
sible lor the peculiar layout of the mulberry trees, flowering fruit and
ter distinctly its own. cities' streets. A number of Estudillos palms. Although the house is impres-
Apart from freeway traffic and un- resided there and when they went sive from the exterior, it is a disap-
fettered by smog and over-popula- home, they went in different direc- pointment inside and totally lacking
tions. It was their diverse trails that in its promise of charm. The parlors
tion, San facinto lies amid countless
directed the thoroughfares of the ate so small and the number of rooms
miles of grazing dairy cows, truck t( iwn!
farms and nursery plants. Because of so surprisingly few that the gay Estu-
its mild climate and nearby hot dillos must have done their large-scale
Francisco Estudillo became the first entertaining in the garden.
springs, it's an ideal retirement town mayor and postmaster. Generous and
—one with its golf course still un- well-liked, he donated many acres of The other mansion is located be-
crowded and back country still un- his holdings to the Santa Fe Railroad tween the Sobocla Hot Springs Re-
pilfered of treasure. and sold other family holdings to the sort and the Soboda Indian Reserva-
The town was officially founded San Jacinto Land Company for a few tion. It is called the "Althouse Ran-

Pala Mission and is the oMest \\\%\\
Really See . . . school in use in Riverside County.
Another influence is seen along Main
DEATH VALLEY Street where the museum, theatre and
John Bainbridge's curio shop were
THREE-DAY TOURS constructed to resemble Indian cave
dwellings.
THREE DEPARTURES
Many of the communities' streets
SUNDAY • TUESDAY • FRIDAY were named after characters from
Helen Hunt Jackson's famous novel,
A Thrilling Adventure on the Ramona. Sheriff Street was named for
Sunny Side of California Mary Sheriff, the first teacher to come
to the valley to teach I n d i a n s
CALL OR WRITE FOR
and in whose house Miss Jackson
FREE BROCHURE
lived. Sent to San Jacinto as a Spe-
This year discover cial Investigator to find out the truth
about the condition of the Soboda In-
THE DIFFERENT WORLD OF WANDERLUST dians, Miss Jackson was appalled by
DEATH VALLEY TOURS what she encountered. The Treaty of
215 W. Fifth Street Guadalupe Hidalgo had not been re-
Los Angeles, Calif. Dept. DM spected and the life of these Indians
If you like variety, you'll love Or Call Area Code 213 624-8455 was one of sordid deprivation. Had
Utah, where you'll find majestic the Soboda Indians not been natur-
mountains, trout-loaded streams ally peaceful, San Jacinto could have
and lakes, rainbows of color in chita—Old San Jacinto Viejo," but is supported a bloody battle field.
the Red Rock Country and land- secluded from the street by an olive Back country exploration in this
marks of history in every city. grove. None of the original land region is bound to turn up artifacts.
grant in this area is held by an Estu- In addition to early Indian occupa-
Plan your Utah trip with the aid of dillo today, which seems rather a pity. tion, De An/a and his men marched
a FREE Utah Vacation Guide and
road map. Write today! Send your They contributed a great deal of color through the valley in 1775 and early
name and address to: to an era when California's economic Spaniards operated a lime kiln near
Department 102 and social life revolved around its I he popular Gilman Hot Springs re-
Utah Tourist Council famous ranchos.
Council Hall, State Capitol sort located on the outskirts of San
Salt Lake City, Utah
In spite of its white frame Victor- Jacinto. Land for a new branch of
ian houses and broad lawns, not all the University of California has been
of the town is reminiscent of New allotted near here also and construc-
England. The San Jacinto High tion is underway. Again, typical of
School with its ivy-covered bell tower iis New England influence, it would
Grand Canyon and court)aid surrounded by aged be hard to find a nicer campus at-
stucco buildings is typical of the mosphere than in this lush valley so
California Mission period. Built in rich with history and old world
Rivet Trips 1910, it was modeled a Tier the old charm. ///
* * • * TWO SPRING ART EXHIBITS . . .

at the
Operators of ALL . . . desert-southwest art gallery
Wild Rivers in the West Feb. I I - Mar. 4 Ned Pankin and Fremont Ellis
Mar. 4-Mar. 31 Bill Sharer—Ned Jacob
30 Years Experience
Also, paintings by red DeGra/ia, John Hilton, Bill Hampton, Karl
Albert, Warner Baird, Jack Dudley, Jack Forrest, Dale Logan Hill,
* * * * Bob Rishell, Ray Fries/, Val Samuelson and Wilton McCoy.
Write to: Selection of Maynard Dixon field sketches.
HATCH RIVER
EXPEDITIONS, INC
1278 DRIGGS AVE;,
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
or
411 E. SECOND NORTH desert-southwest art gallery (In The Desert Magazine Building,
VERNAL, UTAH Open daily, 9 to 5; Sundays noon to 5 No admission fee Highway 111, Palm Desert)

Th© Aqua Caliente Indians who own much of ?olm
valuable land have come a long way since white man moved
in on their happy spa. So what do they do with their money?
Jack Delaney made friends with the tribe and here is his
surprising answer.
BY JACK DELANEY prepare properly before attempting Both enjoy a golden tan from the
the trek. Forget about the arrow- desert sunshine. The red men hold
proof vest and the tomahawk-deflect- the moon in deep respect because,
JL HE INDIANS were on the war- ing helmet. They won't be needed in according to an Indian legend, the
path—they had reached the breaking this Indian stronghold. However, "Moon Maiden" brought the tribe
point! This was an all-out battle for a few other items are absolute neces- great joy. The white man worships
the right to convert their winning sities to the success and safety of the the sun in this land of the original
tickets into wampum. The red men adventure. These include suntan "hot foot," and it is no legend that
were fed up with red tape—too many lotion, swim suits, sports clothes, golf it sometimes brings him great sun-
pow-wows and too little action. They clubs, and what is perhaps the most burn!
were tired of the greeting: "How." important item — the old r e l i a b l e
They knew how—the question they check-book! One might ask if the Indians, ac-
wanted answered was when! A hun- customed to the simple way of life,
dred redskins bit the dust and came I found that the present day In- are overwhelmed by this "Jewel Box
up with enough loot to make them dians of the Agua Caliente tribe are of the Desert," which is known as the
one of the wealthiest tribes in the a far cry from those of many moons playground of millionaires, the mecca
United States. ago—but the same can be said of the of Presidents, the haven of Hollywood
white people. Historic pictures of celebrities, and the winter golf capi-
Every brave, squaw, and papoose life before automobiles, airplanes, tal of the world. The answer is that,
received $335,000 in land. Some al- motion pictures, radio, television, etc. in many cases, they are the landlords
ready held property appraised as high show us in a different light also. A to the millionaires, the Presidents,
as SI,000,000. This was the exciting group of Indians sitting around a the celebrities, and the golfers—and
story that tempted me to investigate campfire silently smoking their pipes who ever heard of a landlord being
the unbelievable modern day Indian might have been likened to a group overwhelmed by anything! They just
Reservation in the Coachella Valley of men sitting around in the old drive around in their air-conditioned
(Colorado Desert) of Southern Cali- country store, occasionally spitting Cadillacs, stopping occasionally for
fornia. To reach this Indian country, pellets of chewing tobacco at the pot- a "money break" at their favorite
all I had to do was to drive east from bellied stove. All that was missing in bank.
Los Angeles approximately 105 miles the red man's circle was the pickle
barrel. In order to really appreciate the
along a fast Freeway (Interstate 10), significance of the Indian situation in
then a few miles on Highway 111 to Actually, the descriptive labels the Palm Springs area today, I search-
the village of Palm Springs. "red men" and "white men" are ed the historic records of these per-
Anyone planning an expedition in- meaningless. They are used here for sonable and industrious people. From
to the land of the Agua Caliente band identification purposes only. The red Harry C. James, an acknowledged
of Mission Indians, for the purpose of man is not red and, in Palm Springs authority on the Indians of the
exploring this fabulous area, should at least, the white man is not white. Southwest, and author of the very in-
The Agua Caliente tribe was for-
tunate in that their contact with the
white man was relatively limited un-
til mid-19th century. Other Indians
did not fare nearly as well, because
first under Spain, then under Mexi-
can rule, and later under American
colonial domination, they were ex-
ploited and subjected to conditions
closely akin to slavery. This was par-
ticularly true of Indians living near
white settlements. By subterfuge,
their land was taken over and "home-
steaded," especially if it contained
features that were desired by the
early settlers.
The most interesting moments of
my "expedition" were spent mingling
with tribal members. Realizing that
nothing can beat the people-to-people
From tule huts to Palm Springs estates in less than 100 years'. approach, I visited with several of
these Indians in their homes. Through
formative book, The Cahuilla In- I learned from Elizabeth W. Rich- informal conversation I was success-
dians, I learned that scientists, using ards, in her interesting booklet, A ful in bringing out many facts not
the language root theory, include the Look Into Palm Springs' Past, that generally covered in the skimpy litera-
Agua Caliente tribe in the Cahuilla cactus, palm nuts, mesquite pods and ture about them.
clan. Also, that the same system of seeds, and acorns made up the staples
classification relates the Cahuilla In- in their diet. The barrel cactus, after Elizabeth Monk, a definitely friend-
dians to the Aztecs of Mexico, the being cooked for several hours, tasted ly Indian, has served on the Tribal
Hopi of Arizona, and the Ute of like artichoke. Yucca stalk tasted like Council for many years. (This gov-
Colorado and Utah. asparagus. Mesquite pods (about erning body, composed of a chair-
The Cahuilla Indians of Southern 25% plant sugar), palm nuts, and man and four members, has been in
California were under Spanish domi- acorns were ground into meal and existence since 1955.) Her father,
nation from 1769 until 1845, when stored for future use. Their meat Marcus Pete, represented his Chief
California became part of the United supply consisted principally of deer in a Washington, D.C. conference and
States. When the Spaniards came, and rabbit—with an occasional chuck- was noted as an interpreter for the
there were about 200,000 Indians in walla li/ard. The Indians lured rab- tribe. He spoke fluent English. Never
the area. Some of them became sub- bits by making certain noises during happy with his original name, Pete
jects of the Missions of the Fran- their mating season, and killed them Marcus, he changed it to Marcus
ciscan Fathers and, as such, received with rocks or arrows when they came Pete. When I asked Elizabeth what
mixed blessings. They were taught close to investigate. she thought of Westerns on television
the arts of agriculture, house build-
ing, and stock raising; but suffered
cruelties and indignities at the hands
of the Spaniards, the Mexicans, and
the early American pioneers. Since
the Agua Caliente tribe was at one
time under the influence of the Cali-
fornian Missions, it is frequently re-
ferred to as a band of the Mission
Indians.
Acording to Harry James, the ear-
liest records of the Cahuilla show
them broken up into a multitude of
small village groups, established
around springs or beside streams in
the mountains and in desert can-
yons. One such group set up house-
keeping at the base of Mount San
Jacinto because they discovered warm
waters bubbling from the earth.
Their spot was named Agua Cali-
ente by the Indians and this group
became known as the Agua Caliente
tribe. Every village had set boun-
daries, and disputes over these boun-
daries sometimes became very bitter.
They were a peace loving people, but
it was imperative to their survival
that they protect their scant food Joe Patencio, Chief of the Agua Caliente tribe, greets visitors at the door of
supply. his luxurious Palm Springs home.

her answer was, "Oh, I can take 'em husband. "Always the Indian obeyed citizenship because YfC have y
or leave em alone. The Indian his songs—always until now. Now been citizens in this country always."
scenes do nothing for me!" they learn different ways from other In defense of the Mission Fathers
Chief Joe Patencio, a fine Indian people." he said that they were not cruel to
specimen, received me in his home Going back to the old days with the Indians. They were kind, but
and sat around chatting with me the Chief (Francisco), there was a be- they took on as assistants Indians
while his family watched color tele- lief that no tribe was ever wiped out. who learned Spanish easily. These
vision at the other end of a spacious "The Power always saved at least two men went around everywhere and,
living room. The whole atmosphere of them. It all were killed, it would even though they were of the same
was one of contentment, but Joe point- turn out that some were away visiting race, many of them were mean and
ed out philosophically that a fight and would be saved to preserve the cruel to their own people. It was they
was necessary to attain their present tribe." The Indian people always who worked the Indians hard, pun-
position, and that their children will helped each other. No family had ished them, and even stole their chil-
have to fight all through life to re- food when another had nothing. dren to make Christians out of them.
lain it. I learned from other In- They divided—and then they starved
dians that he was the last of the her- together. My visits with a number of the
editary Chiefs when their system of Agua Caliente Indians, for the pur-
government was changed nine years An interesting legend tells us that pose of learning more about them,
ago, but he was too modest to admit "giant flies were taught to twist the produced gratifying results and were
this. However, he was proud of his stick to make the lire." It is ex- quite enjoyable. I found that most
uncle, Francisco Patencio, who pre- plained that "the flies have never of them lean toward the modest side,
ceded him as Chief, and was the
author of a book, entitled, Stories and
Legends of the Palm Springs Indians.
It was interesting to learn that
Chief Francisco Patencio wrote this
book mainly for the younger genera-
tion whom he felt was drifting away
from their own people, "so that when
the Indian customs are forgotten,
they may read and know, and remem-
ber in their hearts the ways and
thoughts of their ancestors." He point-
ed out that the Indians kept records
of their people, but that they did not
keep records of time. A story, involv-
ing the activities of a certain group
of characters, might cover a span of
1000 or even 5000 years—they had no
way of knowing.
To clarify frequent mention of
.songs and stories in his book the Chief Tioo million dollar spa built on land leased from the Indians.
says, "When 1 speak of songs of the
logotten this, because today you can are hesitant to volunteer information,
people it means that songs were the
see even the common house flies rub- but will talk with a little prompting.
laws. When anyone did something
bing their hands together, remember- The younger ones could recall no-
thai was not in the law, the Indian
ing it yet." thing of importance about the past,
people would say that the song is
nor remember anything that might
against them. Their own people As in the Christian religion, these have been passed on to them by their
would not recognize them if the songs people worshipped a good spirit, Um parents or grandparents, This ap-
were against them. That was our \aw—the God of the Indians, and pears to [joint up the wisdom of
law. The Great Spirit gave our people feared a bad one, Tahquitz—a real Chief Patencio in preparing a writ-
power, but they lost it because they devil! "He had great power but be ten record for those who are drifting.
had ii so long that they began making became a very bad spirit. He killed It was inevitable, with the coming of
their own songs. The power became the people and animals. He caused the white people and the rapid
less and less, until only a very little the wrecks of trains and automobiles, growth of the area in recent years,
remains to a lew of the medicine men and delighted in everything that made that they should drift—or perhaps a
today." misery for people." Tahquitz was a belter word would be adjust.
real heel who caused these good folks
foe Patencio told me, "It's all in a heap of anxiety.
the book," and his pride in his uncle's The transition of this locality from
word picture of the Indians of yester- Francisco Patencio, Chief of the a peaceful Indian village to a white,
day is understandable. I was inform- Agua Caliente Tribe, never went to or mixed, town started with the ar-
ed that the Indians never copied, school, bin in later life he could rival of fudge John G. McCallum in
never had to borrow customs of other read and write English, Spanish, 1884. He was the first permanent
people. They had their own music, French and speak seven Indian dia- white resident of Agua Caliente, as
their own medicine, their own dances. lects. He attended the American In- it was known at the time. Edward
They wove their own blankets—blan- dian Society convention in Minneapo- Ainsworth tells us in his book, The
kets that would hold water. The In- lis (I!)I!)) and stood before all of the Beckoning Desert, that Judge Mc-
dian obeyed his songs. No man ever delegates from other tribes and said, Callum was a member of the Legisla-
raised his hand against his wife. No "I hear that you want citizenship. I ture and, at the time, Superintendent
woman was ever unfaithful to her and my people, we do not want Continued on Page 42

This manuscript, with the letter below, arrived too close to DESERT's deadline
to have a complete assay made of the nuggets. However, they have passed
the scratch test and the nitric acid test. It's a good yarn. The writer asks
nothing. Moreover, as he is anonymous, he is not seeking publicity. Whether
his nuggets are Pegleg's or not, is for you to decide. They may be examined
in the office of DESERT Magazine.—Editor.
near Choral Per>ner

Although the enclosed story has no byline, I believe i t and
the Dhotogranhs will be of interest to you. After you have
read the story you will understand why the reasons for my
remaining anonymous are too obvious to enumerate.
You have my full permission to publish the story and this l e t t e r

if you wish. They may be of minor interest to the readers of
Desert magazine.
More important, I am also enclosing two of the Pegleg nuggets.

One is s t i l l black, exactly as found and the other has had the
black cooper oxides removed by the process mentioned in the story
and i s now native "gold" in color. You will have these nuggets
to show one and all who have doubted the story of Peglog's black
nuggets. You may keen them with my comnliments for Desert
magazine's collection of desert a r t i f a c t s in t h i s case
you can start a new collection of items from lost mines that
have been found.
Very sincerely yours
The man who found Pegleg's black gold
P.S. If the story is printed, undoubtedly there will be some

questions from the readers. As mentioned, I'm a subscriber to
Desert magazine, and although I will remain anonymous, I will
answer any question or l e t t e r that is printed in Desert magazine.
I FOUND PEGLEG'S BLACK GOLD
i T IS TIME once and for all to
end the mystery, the speculation and
always been doubting Thomases who
claimed that lost mines and treasures
let's go back to the beginning for a
briel resume of the Pegleg story and
the controversy. Almost 10 years ago ol the desert were nothing but fig- quote Henry E. W. Wilson from his
I found what has been known since ments of somebody's imagination. story Losi Pegleg Gold Is Not a
1852 as the "burned black gold of Well, now it is time to prove that at Myth from the November 1946 issue
the Pegleg." least one lost desert bonanza has been of DESERT Magazine:
discovered—and not lost again, for I
Without pinpointing the discov- know exactly where il is. "About the year 1852, John O.
ery on a map for reasons that are Smith, known as Pegleg Smith,
obvious, I will say only that it is less At this point let me qualify myself. journeying from Yuma to Los An-
than 30 miles from Salton Sea and First, I've lived most of my life in geles by way of Warner's ranch, at-
within the confines of the map on the Southwest and have always loved tempted a short-cut across the des-
page 10 of the November 1946 issue the desert. I've been a subscriber to ert. He was familiar with this part
of Desert Magazine. DESERT Magazine lor many years of the Southwest, having been a
I've gone back to the location an and although I've enjoyed reading the horse-trader and guide.
average of twice a year since the first various stories and articles about the Somewhere in this desolate region
discovery and, according to my rec- lost mines and treasures, I never had he climbed one of three hills, on
ords, I've brought out and sold a any burning urge to search for them. I he toj) ol which lay a quantity of
lotal of 5314,650 worth of Pegleg's A story on where to find a field of black lumps of metal which Smith
black gold nuggets. This amount is desert wild flowers in the spring or took to be copper. He picked up
not the "millions" usually associated a map showing where to collect min- a lew lor his collection of curiosi-
with lost mines and treasures, but it eral specimens was just as interesting ties. Arriving in Los Angeles, he
is a fortune to me. The money has to me as a story about lost gold. showed his "native copper" to a
been wisely and quietly invested. Secondly, now that almost 10 years mining friend who pronounced it
Within a year alter first discovering have passed since 1 first found the pure gold. Though coated with
the gold, I retired from the work 1 Pegleg gold and 1 am retired for life black desert varnish, the nuggets
was doing and have been enjoying with a comfortable income to do as I were the real thing beneath the
lile ever since. please, the passion lor secrecy is no surface."
Why, then, should I break a 10- longer important. Pegleg Smith disappeared during a
year silence and write about the dis- Finally, I've already found all of subsequent search for the black nug-
covery now? Perhaps the answer lies the gold that can be easily collected gets and in the years that followed
in a remark made by a former editor without actual mining operations. several others found them, but either
of DESERT Magazine. In describing With the surface gold gone, I don't could not go back to the location or
t he men who came to DESERT's of- think anyone else is going to find the died or wTcre killed. The last dis-
fice looking lor information about Pegleg lor the simple reason that covery was made about 1880 by a
lost mines and treasures of the desert, whatever gold is left is well under- half-breed who was later knifed in a
his parting words to all of them were, ground. brawl. More than $4000 worth of
"Good luck—and if you find it, be coarse gold was found in his bunk.
sine to write a story lor DESERT. So Before going into my own story,
Although none of the black nug-
far we haven't had such an article, Dime shows comparative size of nug- geis have shown up in the 80-odd
bin there's always a first time." gets.. Here arc. 7 exactly as found years since the half-breed was knifed,
For all these years I've intended and 10 with the black oxide removed. probably no "lost gold" story has
to keep (lie discovery an absolute created as much mystery, legend and
secret for the rest of my life, but excitement or led as many men to
those words "so far we haven't had search for it as the Pegleg.
such an article" and "there's always Whether the black nuggets found
a first lime" kept going around and by Pegleg and the others are the
around in my mind. Somehow I'd s;<me as those I discovered, I can't be
always assumed that more than one sure. But 1 am sure of one thing. I
losi mine or desert treasure had been found the black gold and I've got the
re-discovered and the riches claimed. proof in the form of photographs as
Apparently this is not true, unless well as the black nuggets themselves.
someone has found something and My own story starts in the month
kepi il as quiet as f have. of March, 1955. Let me reiterate, I
Perhaps it is time also to give hope was a simple rock hound, not a trea-
to those hardy souls who have spent sure hunter or a searcher for lost
months and years of their lives search- mines.
ing for lost bonanzas. There have I'd driven to that part of the low

desert in my Jeep for a weekend of place again. If the black nuggets of
fresh air, good weather, some exercise tance to the next road and the main
metal in my pockets really were gold, highway and draw myself a map and
and a bit of rock hunting. Fortun- then I was damned if I was going to
ately, in view of what transpired, I mark the distances on it. (3) I would
rush back to the Jeep half-cocked and go home and find out if the black
was alone on the trip. Saturday after- end up not being able to find my
noon 1 drove the Jeep as far as I nuggets really were gold.
way back like so many others have.
could go up a sandy wash and camp- At first light in the morning I
ed for the evening. Sunday morning, Forcing myself to stay calm, I re-
traced my route to the Jeep by plac- sorted more pebbles with my tender
alter a leisurely breakfast, I took off hands, more slowly this time, and
for a long hike, carrying only a can- ing stone markers every 50 feet or
so. It was late in the afternoon when added two more black nuggets to the
teen, a rock hammer and a small seven already in my pocket. Then I
sack to bring back specimens, intend- I arrived at the Jeep, but without
even realizing my acute hunger, I lolled up my sleeping bag and headed
ing to come back to the jeep for back to the Jeep.
lunch. I walked about two miles rolled up my sleeping bag, snatched
through uneven terrain, stopping a couple cans of food, and headed There were many questions churn-
now and then to pick up rock back to what I already had named ing in my mind. Should I announce
samples, none of which as I remem- "Pegleg Hill." It was there, exactly the discovery — provided the nuggets
ber were of any particular interest. as I had left it. I unrolled my sleep- turned out to be gold? Should I call
About 11:00 A.M. I sat down on ing bag on top of the hill, cut open a newspaper and tell them about it?
top of a small hill to take a drink the cans and ate the cold food. Should I confide in my friends? The
from ihe canteen and rest a bit before
starting back. The hill I was sitting
on was covered with a crust of smooth
water-worn pebbles, the sand and dirt
having been partly blown from them
by the wind. After drinking, I leaned
over on my left elbow and idly began
to flip the smooth pebbles down the
slope with my right hand as I would
shoot marbles, hardly paying atten-
tion to what I was doing. The 8th
or 10th pebble I picked up was'
heavy—so heavy I retained it in my
hand and sat up to examine it close-
ly. It was black and rounded on the
edges and about 3A of an inch in
diameter. Hefting it two or three
times, I quickly realized that for the
weight of its small size it must be
metal—and heavy metal. Quickly I
brought out my pocket knife and
scraped the surface of the pebble with
the edge of the blade. When I saw the
yellow glitter T dropped it — then
picked it up again with a trembling
hand. I'll never know how long I
sat there paralyzed with that first
black gold nugget in my hand. I'd
read the Pegleg story in DESERT
Magazine some years before, but had
forgotten all about it. As my numb-
ed brain stalled to function again it
all came back to me and I realized
the area I was in was part of the
Pegleg country described in the story.
This was it! I'd found the black
Pegleg gold!
The next thing I remember was

scrambling wildly on my knees among
the pebbles, picking them up by the DESERT'S editor, Choral Pepper, examines nuggets in sunlight.
handfuls and helling for heavy ones.
In the next two hours I found seven It wouldn't be lair to say that I I'irst obvious answer to these questions
more nuggets, which later weighed slept that night, for I didn't. I lay was a resounding NOI The best
out from a hall ounce on up to one there wide awake, my mind racing. thing to do, I decided, was to keep
thai went nearly two ounces. During that sleepless night I arrived I lie whole business absolutely secret
at three absolute decisions. (1) I and tell no one and do nothing until
My hands were gelling raw from would go back to the Jeep a second I'd had a lot more time to think
handling the pebbles so I sat down for lime and be positive that I could find things over.
a while to gather my wits and to do my way back to the hill again. (2) I
some thinking. The first thing was would mark the spot where the Jeep On the drive home another thought
to make sine thai I knew where 1 was was, turn it around and measure occured to me. The story of Pegleg's
and could come back to the same exactly by the speedometer the dis- Continued on Page 37
g pg
Photo of entrance to
Palm Canyon by
Esther Henderson.
Where Wild Palms Grow
According to DESERT Magazine's founder, Randall Henderson, there are

approximately 11,000 native palm trees growing in the canyons and foot-
hills of the Southern California desert. Whence came these trees to this
arid land? Well, the author has an interesting theory as to their origin. BY RANDALL HENDERSON
JL HERE ARE nine species of trees found being at Dos Palmas near Pin-
indigenous to the Southern California yon Crest at an elevation of 3200 feet.
desert, and if I were asked to name The greatest concentration of the
the one which 1 regard as the most wild palms is in the San facinto and
ornate, 1 would reply without hesi- Santa Rosa mountains adjacent to
tation: "The wild palm— Washing- Palm Springs and Palm Desert. With
tonia filifera." the cooperation of the Agua Caliente
My acquaintance with this stately band of Mission Indians, Palm
tree growing in its native habitat was Springs has provided access roads and
in 1921. My prospector friend, Gus picnicking facilities in lower Palm
Lederer, had invited me to visit his and Andreas canyons. Many thou-
little cabin at Corn Springs in the sands of motorists visit these canyons
Chuckawalla Mountains. Following annually between October 15 and
his directions, 1 took a rock road from May 15 when the toll gate which the
the door of Chuckawalla Valley up Indians maintain on South Palm Can-
a canyon where he and his burros yon Drive is open. The admission
made (heir home. charge is 50c lor adults and 25c for
children. The receipts go into a tri-
Rounding a bend in the canyon, bal fund and part of it is used for
immediately in front of me, was a maintaining and policing (he lower
picture one would never expect to sec tors of these canyons.
find in an arid desert — a majestic
group of palm trees encircling a Palm Canyon is the daddy of all
spring of flowing water. Later 1 (he wild palm oases in Southern Cali-
counted 82 trees ranging in height fornia. It is estimated there are 3000
from 30 t') 50 feet, green fronds at native trees along a 7-mile sector of
their crowns, and skirts of dead the lower gorge, growing on the
fronds reaching almost to the ground. banks of a stream which rises in
Obviously, tin's oasis had once been springs higher up in the Santa Rosa
(he camping ground of prehistoric mountains and gradually disappears
desert tribesmen, lor the rocks sur- in the sand as it approaches the floor
rounding the spring were adorned of the desert.
with the petroglyphic art of Indians
and there were deep mortar holes in The partly paved road into the
some of die boulders. lower canyons passes the toll gate and
ends on a high earthen dike where
Since then, the exploration of des- (here is parking space for cars and a
ert canyons in quest of wild palm lit lie Hading post where souvenirs
groups has been a hobby, and during are sold. From the top of this dike,
the intervening ears I have logged visitors—with lunch boxes il it is a
87 separate oases in the desert can- picnic party—hike down a short trail
yons and foothills of Riverside, San lo the creekbecl and into a veritable
Bernardino, San Diego and Imperial forest of Washingtonias. There are
counties. My estimate is thai there good trails winding among the palms,
are ai leas! 11.000 native palms on many of which are 50 and 60 feet in
(he Southern California desert, ap- height.
proximately half of them in River-
side county. The skirts of dry fronds on the
older dees arc highly inflammable
There are 3 1 of these palm groups and visitors are cautioned against
in (he canyons and foothills around building campfires and smoking
t h e p e r i m e t e r of C o a c h e l l a valley, ( h e among the trees. Several years ago
highest elevation at which they are a lite swept through the lower end

of the canyon and burned the dead dows, making it impossible to get Near the trees is a cave b£»ta& a
fronds, but the trees survived. Sap sharp pictures. Later I returned and jumble of rocks which still bears the
from the roots of the tree flows to hiked up the canyon from The Bench smoke charring of ancient Indian
the green crown top through a por- and slept on a sandbar along the fires.
ous trunk. Hence fire never pene- creek so I could get an early morning Murray Canyon, another of the
trates deeply, and while it leaves exposure. The story with pictures was Palm Canyon tributaries, has a creek
scars on the outside, the trees continue published in the DESERT Magazine lined with palms and a flowing
to throw out new leaves. issue of January, 1941. stream part of the year—with an occa-
Seven miles up the canyon from the The historic old Vandeventer trail sional pool for a swim. But the un-
parking area, which is known as The which parallels the creek at a higher improved trail which follows the
Bench, is a 60-foot ribbon waterfall contour, passes within 100 yards of floor of the canyon is only for rugged
and this marks the upper limit of the the falls, but they are not visible hikers.
native palms. I discovered this water- from the foot path. Hence very few
visitors to Palm Canyon, including This also is true of West Fork and
fall in 1940 while hiking the 15 miles
from the headwaters of the creek at the riders who follow this trail, have East Fork of Palm Canyon, shown on
ever seen this waterfall. the accompanying map. There are
Ribbonwood on Highway 74 to Palm many stately members of the Washing-
Springs. My botanist companions and Andreas Canyon, one of the lower tonia family in both these tributaries,
I were following the creekbed when tributaries of the Palm Canyon drain- but like Murray, they are for hiking
we came to a precipice where water age system, also is accessible from shoes and clothing resistant to the
was pouring over the rim. We detour- South Palm Canyon Drive, and here catsclaw and other thorny shrubs
ed out of the gorge and returned to the visitor will find picnicking space along the way.
the creek downstream. This was late in the shade of one of the most majes-
afternoon and the falls were in sha- tic native palm forests in the desert. Fern Canyon, sometimes known as
Dripping Springs Creek, is a tribu-
tary which takes off on the east side
of the south Palm Canyon Drive just
below The Bench. This also is the
home of the native palm, and near the
upper trees is a gorgeous bank of
maidenhair ferns—green only when
there has been generous seasonal
rain to provide ample water. It is
this bank of ferns which gives the
creek its alternative name of Drip-
ping Springs.
Palm Desert also has its palm can-
yons, although none of these have so
tar been made accessible to motorists
seeking nature trails for hiking or pic-
nic spots. Following the perimeter
of the Palm Desert cove from west to
east, the first and most scenic palm
canyon is Cat Creek, which rises on
the eastern slope of Haystack Moun-
tain and flows into and across the
Cahuilla Hills jackrabbit homestead
colony area—although its little stream
sinks into the sand before reaching
the floor of the desert. This is in the
Bighorn Sheep Refuge, and the palm-
bordered pools along this creek are
often the watering places of these
animals. On one trip up the canyon
I saw two fine bucks silhouetted
against the sky near the headwaters
of the creek.
Continuing anti-clockwise around
the perimeter of the cove, the next
canyon is Dead Indian. The motorist
crosses this dry arroyo on a bridge on
Highway 74 just before the winding
road starts its climb up the slope of
the Santa Rosa Mountains. A half-
mile upstream from the bridge is a
pretty palm oasis. Here the canyon
forks, and a brisk climb up a precipi-
tous rock face on the right leads into
Ebbens Creek. The mainstream of
Dead Indian is the left fork at this
Continued on Page 40

Artist Reveals
Desert's Real
Treasure
Henry R. Mockel
Self portrait of artist at work.
A FTER A FEW balmy days in

January, there begins the forming of
sea-level to 3500 feet. About 20 miles
east of 29 Palms are dunes that gen-
a sprawling fashion close to the
ground. The leaves have a distinctive
a hardly detectable ground cover over erally have a good stand of lilies, fur- two-tone design. It prefers sandy lo-
the desert floor. A close inspection ther east, past the Coxcomb Moun- cations in the Mojave and the Colo-
reveals myriads of tiny rosettes, the tains, is an exceptionally early area rado deserts.
humble first appearance of our wild for primroses and brittle bush. From
Palo Verde (cercidium floridum)
flowers. Some will be green, others Desert Center the highway offers a
is as common along road sides in the
purple or a reddish brown, blending quick return to Indio.
Colorado desert as it is in dry washes.
with the dead vegetation of the pre- A left turn at the Pinto Wye in It has small leaves, growing in com-
vious year and with the perennials. the foshua National Monument pound fashion, 4-8 on a central peti-
As each desert valley has its own gives access to higher elevations and ole. Its trunk is a smooth green. An-
climate, some hotter, some windier, a different zone. In some years these other Palo Verde is frequently seen.
some colder, the flowering seasons high valleys receive a belated snow- The Parkinsonia has long fronds of
differ. Rainfall is generally spotty so fall which results in more abundant compound leaves, the trunk and limbs
that one locality might have flowers growth of all types of vegetation. The look like patinated bronze. The
in profusion whereas another has to down grade from the exit of the uppermost petal of the yellow corolla
wait another year. Seeds of desert Monument to Joshua Tree is usually has a strong red coloration. It is
plants are equipped with an inhibi- lined with flowers of many kinds often used an as ornamental plant
tor which keeps the seed from germin- during this season. around houses and stores.
ating unless sufficient moisture at The drive may be continued north Thistle Sage (salvia carduacea) .
a suitable temperature is present for of foshua Tree to the Landers area This plant abounds along road sides
the necessary length of time to dis- which again, at a lower elevation, where scrapers have shaped the
solve it. Because of this character- has it's own time-table for flower shoulders of the highways. The me-
istic some blooms will appear in the display. Whitewater Canyon offers chanics of scraping out other species
spring and some in the fall. How- rewarding sights when its season is and stirring the soil seems to have a
ever, what with these varying condi- on. Borrego State Park presents oco- beneficial result. Easily observed
tions and varying demands of the tillos in profusion along with agave from an automobile, this plant is one
plants, something is flowering in the or century plants. A conversation of several whose characteristic is to
desert all year long. with the Park Rangers will be highly project its central stem directly
profitable. through a fully-formed blossom and
I'd like to give some advice concern- grow another on top of it, and after
ing a phase of desert wildflowers. We have found the desert to be
very gratifying in all its aspects, that a third. The corolla is laven-
Don't pick them. During the last der and the stamen terminate in
flower season quite a few people whether in full bloom or past it when
annuals remain preserved in the dry bright red anthers.
broke out in skin rashes after pick-
ing and handling them—some even desert air. Desert Mallow (sphaeralcea am-
developing welts that required medi- The desert wildflowers described bigua). Several varieties of mallow
cal treatment. All my flower por- below and illustrated on these pages may be recognized by their crinkly
traits are done from the living plant by Henry Mockel are from his famous leaves, the size of which might differ
and I never break their stems. watercolor collection now in the slightly. This species, the most com-
Several short trips may be taken Rachel McMasters Miller Hunt Bo- mon, lias deep orange to vermillion
to enjoy the indigenous flora. One tanical Library of the Carnegie Insti- blossoms. Other species have flowers
can go by way of Mecca through Box tute of Technology in Pittsburgh. ranging from white to pink to scarlet.
Canyon, cross U.S. 60-70, and pro- As it is a perennial, it generally grows
Palmate-leaved Gourd, (cucurbita
in the form of a small shrub.
ceed through the Joshua National palmata) also known at Coyote Me-
Monument to Twentynine Palms. lon, has a showy, intensely yellow Text Continued on Page 36
This takes in elevations from below blossom, 3-4 inches across, grows in Illustrations on following pages

/
<1 cy.
0
a.m
arrived. Matt's been ^pne many
years now, so here is the story as I
heard it—sorted and patched from his
and other versions.
About 1902 there was a wrangler-
guide-camp tender working with a sur-
vey crew "over in the big range south-
easterly from the Dale dry lake area."
This presumably meant the Coxcomb
range. It could have included the
ass*- north end of the Eagle Mountain
flange also, but this doesn't seem
7A<? Cojlcamhs JUrcoj)$ Jinqel likely to me. I was never able to find
out if this crew were running lines
and corners for the U.S. Land Office,
or were making topographic maps
for the U.S.G.S.,' but it was probably
the latter as some local topos came out
KENNETH MARQUISS gives us another authentic lost mine about 1904.
saga with all of the clues from his own "little black book." Looking like painted sets for an
H. Rider Haggard amateur theatrical,
the Coxcombs rise abruptly and brood-
Ti HE LOST MINE mania (re- crew and those from visiting hard-
rockers as well.
ingly from the desert floor. When the
member to call it "a hobby" if there survey crew found it rough going in
arc any psychiatrists in your crowd) The two men who did most to the main part of the range, transpor-
has all die tantalizing—and lew of keep the operation on an even keel tation slowed down and the camp
ilie bitter—elements of a hefty gamb- were Clovis Benito and Matt Rogers. wrangler had more time to check
ling jag in Nevada. The odds against Clovis (who still lives in 29 Palms) nude shoes, pack gear, explore for
you are Keno si/e, but prospecting's wood and water, and pick up an
had a litlle store that supplied gro-
redeeming difference is fresh air, occasional diet change of "fast veal."
silent solitude and exercise. About all ceries at a price we could afford, and
you can lose arc a couple of notches he also trucked our ore to Mojave. It was on one of these hunting
on your belt, a little boot leather, and After I finished hoisting ore and trips that he followed a desert big-
some (in brand inhibitions. muck from the lower level, I would horn along a narrow trail upwards
go back to the face of the collar level into a vertical canyon that split the
On the other hand, if you ever do drift to help Matt. In the welcome crags in roughly N.W. to S.E. fashion.
hit a strike, then your take would stillness between jack-hammer roars, The sheep had disappeared by the
make a casino's win ticket look like he told me the story of the "Droopy time he had worked his way around
a green trading stamp. Angel." We made tentative plans to the corner, so he followed the ledge
go look lor it, but somehow the day lor several hundred yards to see where
1 first heard of the lost ledge of and the necessary grubstake never his quarry had gone. The shelf pinch-
yellow speckled rose quart/ known as
"The Lost Droopy Angel" over 30
years ago. It was also called the
"Lost Gull" or the "Lost White Star"
ledge, depending on the interpreta-
tion of the teller. But they were all wentynine
Palms
in the same general location with a
similar background.
About the time the slogan "We have
nothing to fear, but fear itself" was
BERNARDINO --. -.{COUNTY: . \ /
new and shiny, I got my first under- -., RIVERSIDE < -;>i COUNTY - T '.€
ground hardrock job in a hole known
as the Blue Bell Mine. It was near
what is known as the Cholla Cactus
Garden in today's Joshua Tree Na-
tional Monument. I understand it is
now called the Gold-Bell Claim, and
is not being worked.
In trying to join up with the
group, I foolishly mentioned a be-
tween-semester kitchen job at a resort
hotel. They promptly elected me
chief cook and dishwasher. This was
in addition to my duties as hoist man,
part-time driller, and general machin-
ery coddler. So, as the cook tent-house
was the social center, I was exposed jchello
to all the lost mine truths, half-truths, Thermal .. '••'..:••••. '"
and lies that made the rounds of our \\ I 'W- »ECCJ ••••.-'""'..

ed down to a bare two inches as
it went around the next bend. The
wrangler knew it would be folly to
Lowest Photo Print Prices ROCK POLISHER
follow; he barely had room to turn Highest Quality
around as it was. Dev. & print 8 Jumbo prints
As he inched around and slid his from Kodacolor film $1.78
gun to the other hand, he faced the Dev. & print 12 Jumbo prints
from Kodacolor film $2.42
wall, A vein of "dark rose quartz, Great fun for everyone.
Dev. & print 12 Jumbo prints and
speckled with gold" hit him right in new roll of Kodacolor film . $3.30 A wonderful gift for someone.
the nose. It was about 6 or 8 inches Reprints from Kodacolor negs $ .16 The original Thumler's Tumbler polishes
wide, he reported, and cut the wall rocks to a fine, gleaming finish. Produced by
above him at a 45° dip. Because the the largest manufacturer of small tumblers in
Send for price sheets the country. Guaranteed for one year.
vein was flush with the wall and he COMPLETE POLISHER only $19.95
and envelopes
had no tools or safety rigging, the Motor, barrels and all as illustrated. PREPAID
wrangler spent a long time prying off All other 2 SETS OF 3 ABRASIVES $2.40
a small sample with a rock wedge. Photo prices are (1 set for each 1 qt. barrel)
comparably low Rubber tumbler liners, pair .89
As he put the sample in his pocket, Victor's Tumbling Manual $2.00
he noticed a white blotch, or out- Cash, Check or Money Order only
cropping, on the opposite wall of MARKET BASKET PHOTO CO. THUMLER'S TUMBLER
the canyon. He later said it "sort of P. 0. Box 370, Yuma, Arizona or P. O. Box 609
P. O. Box 2830, San Diego, California Monrovia, California
looked like a 10-foot high white
angel, lilted at an angle, with one
drooping wing." This could mean two different matters. The approach- certain batholithic necks offer inter-
anything—too much sun, out in the es to the mountains are long, sandy esting possibilities.
hills too long, a faulted pegmatite, or alluvial fans. The skirts of the peaks
are giant lock piles that defy even The clues are sketchy and the area
a vivid imagination. But it is, at least, rough. Dad summed it up pretty well
a clue: power bikes.
the last lime we were there together.
That night in camp, around the Much of the formation is a verti- As 1 cooked supper and he doctored
lire, he told the crew about his dis- cil, light-colored granite upthrust, a blistered foot, 1 overheard him
covery. The general consensus of almost exactly like the Joshua Tree mutter, "Th' divil hissilf must have
opinion was that, at best, it would Monument area between Key's Ranch hidden the Droopy Angel in this
have to be a cable tram and bucket and the White Tanks. The granite hellish rockpatch, but she's one angel
operation—you can't mine ore hang- itsell is probably sterile, but the it would be heaven to find!"
ing by one loot! Much talk followed, pegmatite dyke pointers, the /ones of
but nothing serious came of it. They contact with the intruded rock, and 1 can't add much to that.
had a survey to finish first.
This course of action seems strange
in today's environment, but condi-
tions were different then. There were
no paved roads nor diesel trucks and
"big money" was hard-headed and
wanted cinch bets.
Matt indicated to me that his ver-
sion of the story came second hand
from a survey crew member who
heard the wrangler tell about it.
Some years later, however, I again
heard the story—this time from the
niece of the man who found it—and
I actually saw the one little piece of
ore that is the only evidence of the
lost lode's existence.
My Dad and I made a few trips to THE FAMILY VEHICLE FOR YEAR-ROUND FUN!
look for the rose quartz vein, but that Exclusive Sliding Canopy Top
was in pre-Jeep days when the roads
Only Pullman Camper features this exclusive and patented Canopy Top which adds 36 square
were rough and the sand around the feet of area and can be completely enclosed with special fitted curtains. It takes only a
Coxcombs a formidable obstacle. We minute to unsnap the tension latches and roll out on rugged nylon rollers. Guaranteed not
covered as much as we could on foot, to rattle. IN THE TREEtESS DESERT AREAS WHERE SHADE MEANS LIFE YOU ARE SAFE
but without success. Later, the lure AND COMFORTABLE WITH THE PATENTED PULLMAN CANOPY.
of lost mine stories with better direc- Other Pullman Features
tions set our course on a different STRONG LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION. Tubular aluminum framework provides greater
cant. strength yet reduces over-all weight and gas costs. Safety glass in all stationary windows.
You can now circle the whole of LOADING MADE EASY. Extra-wide four-foot rear door.
this area in a passenger car on an SPACE SAVING. Door table cabinet provides storage space and doubles as table or work area.
CLEAN, DRY INTERIOR. Water-tight and dust proof Neoprene gaskets around all windows,
easy Sunday's drive and, if you only
doors and underside.
knew where to look, you could prob- Prices Start at Only $375.00
ably see "The Droopy Angel" or the
canyon that contains it from the VISIT OUR MODERN PLANT AND SEE FOR YOURSELF, OR WRITE FOR FREE BROCHURE TO
PULLMAN CAMPERS, DEPT. DM, 8211 PHLOX ST., DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
pavement. Seeing the place from the TELEPHONE TOpaz 2-7968 or SPruce 3-5686.
road and getting there, however, are

A two-way tram ride lasts 30 minutes. Here's a way to make
your trip last all day and get even more for your money!
THE TRAIL ABOVE THE TRAM

by Elwyn C. Pollack
V V E PURCHASED our tickets side of Alt. San Jacinto, the peak zipped up our parkas and set out
and boarded the Palm Springs Tram- could only be reached after a long, at once. Neither my wife nor 1 were
way at 8:00 in the morning. Having arduous hike from Idyllwild, on its conditioned hikers, but the gigantic
made a previous ascent we knew opposite side. proportions of Ml. San Jacinto had
what to expect as we ascended to- With 80 passengers standing in the been tantalizing us from a window
ward the 8516-foot level, but our pro- relatively small tramcar, it was diffi- ol our Morongo Valley house for a
jected hike from the tram's upper cult to obtain an unobstructed view, long lime. After months of threaten-
station to the apex of San Jacinto but during certain interludes when ing to climb it "someday," we finally
peak some 1300 feet loftier was to be ihe suspended car passed at a 45° shamed ourselves into accepting the
a new—and rare—experience. Rare, angle within inches of the moun- challenge.
because without the tram to carry us tainside, there were those who were
above the sheer walls on the desert Our first stop along the way to
happy to have the view obstructed! the peak was Round Valley Camp,
Nevertheless, glimpses of rugged es- two miles from the tramway, at an
carpment rising into spires and tur- elevation of 9100 feet. Here in this
lents above granite walls penetrated mountain fastness we felt submerged
by roots of almost every species of in evergreens. Flat and thickly cov-
pine known to man was overwhelm- ered with a broad-leafed swamp
ingly impressive. grass, the entrance to Round Valley
is marked by a tiny stream trickling
As we stepped onto level ground at over rocky ledges to form small pools
the top, the change in atmosphere of clear, cool water. Hikers shouldn't
temporarily stunned us. From the depend upon this lor drinking water,
heat of the desert floor to the chill however.
of mountain air in 15 minutes! We
From Round Valley the single-file
trail led due north toward Tamarack
Valley where a series of switchbacks
cut through almost impenetrable
mats of green buckthorn. At this
halfway point of our trek nature
literally showered us with primeval
splendor. The tree never ceases to
be a source of wonder. Latent power
within its sprouting seed, the young
sapling splitting granite rock to make
its way to freedom—all this may be
seen along each foot of trail.
Across the meadow-like floor of
Tamarack Valley, Cornell Peak rises
to a 10,000-foot pinnacle enhanced
with fanciful outcroppings. Here, at
last, we were high enough to see be-
yond the trees. Distant ranges Adjacent to this is a wooden stand
Cc' up m die south, fading one lulu bulk by the Sierra Club in the shape
the other like the wavy rep of taffeta, of a tower, under which is a metal
and glimpses of desert floor framed box containing pencils and a diary
by deep canyon walls caused us to inviting comments from the few who
pause as we inched along the trail. conquer this lofty incline. Looking
about the 360° panorama of unending
A striking spread of stark white
serenity and splendor, I found my-
granite near the summit interested
self filling an entire page with im-
us—a visible indication that the top
pressions. Perhaps they were overly
of San Jacinto once consisted of solid
effusive—perhaps even giddy. At that
granite, but at some unrecorded time
altitude you are apt to lose earth-
shook with such violence that the
bound equilibrium — both emotion-
rock dissembled and tumbled in
ally and physically.
grand confusion down canyon walls.
This, of course, did not prevent pine, The rest of the hike was some-
fir and spruce from pushing through, what routine. My wife, who had rest-
around and over the broken struc- ed while I ascended to Folly's Peak,
tures to produce one of Nature's most accomplished our goal with supreme
creative spectacles. effort and, I must admit, I'd reached
my limit. Fortunately, the descent
At last we turned onto the final was easier than the ascent.
bend of the trail. Shelter Cabin, half-
hidden among the trees, marked the Back at the tram station we'd left
exactly nine hours earlier, we had to
More fun for
end. We had arrived! This stone
cabin equipped with wooden bunks, wait two more hours to acquire room
in a car going down. Our muscles
your money at
fireplace, and grate for cooking was
in such filthy condition that weary ached and we were tired beyond be-
lief, but somehow that wait was good
Tramwayland!
and exhausted as we were, one look
repelled us. II each hiker to reach it lor us. Watching visitors arrive and Come spend the day at Tramway-
would leave it clean for the next depart we enjoyed a wondrous sense land high atop 8500-foot Mt. San
ol superiority. Only we knew the Jacinto in Palm Springs!
occupant, it would serve its purpose
as a well-earned hiker's retreat. splendors that existed above the plat- World's Most Spectacular Ride—Two
form they approached as if it were and a half miles long, one mile up
Finding a place in the sun, we ate (he top of the world. In comparison, — in 15 minutes! The Tramway
our lunch of apples and bananas and you might say we'd hiked to heaven! rises majestically over rugged cliffs
and deep chasms to a picturesque
drank our alloted hall-pint each of /// Alpine valley high above Palm
water. The clean, rough granite sand Springs!
felt good to our tired bodies, but my
Snow Sports —Go sledding or cross-
goal was not yet quite reached. Above country skiing. Conditions are ideal,
APACHE LAND
the sinewy fingers of giant dunes far and you can rent toboggans and
below, the green patch-work of date BEAUTIFUL snow discs at the Mountain Chalet.
gardens and golf courses, the archi- SCENERY Beautiful Alpine Country-13,000-
tectural wonder of the upper tram FISHING acre Wilderness State Park! Fifty
station . . . yes, even above Shelter HUNTING miles of scenic hiking trails from
FREE
Cabin where we rested, jutted the CAMP GROUNDS
the Ranger Station —many are
true apex of San Jacinto. Noted on MODERN CABINS
cleared of snow.
the map as Folly Peak, this spot is Swiss-Like Mountain Chalet—The
marked with a sign posted by the a Vacation hand center of Tramwayland! Relax near
forestry service which reads "Mt. San the fire in the comfortable lounge.
Jacinto Peak, elevation: 10,831 feet." . . .Visit the attractive gift shop. . . .
to Remember Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner in
Interstate Host's "Top 0' the Tram"
Restaurant.... Color film, "Miracle
GLEN CANYON at Palm Springs," shown regularly
in the Little Theater. Colorful travel
OF THE COLORADO films screened each Wednesday at
7:30 p.m.
RIVER BOATING TRIPS
Night-Time Dinner Special—The
Two seasons back we offered and gave our Tramway ride, parking and a full-
sad FAREWELL to GLEN CANYON by boating course dinner with prime rib,
and visiting many historic places. chopped sirloin or fried chicken
If you would now like to boat LAKE POWELL entree...all for $5.00 for adults
and into side canyon arms where this guide and $2.75 for children. From 5 to 9
did prowl and learn much of interest in 25 p.m., daily.
The White Mountain Apache Indians welcome you.
years—write us.
Come and enjoy the wonderful mountain climate,
For Spring 1965, we offer you our base fare New, Low Year-Round Rates
the beautiful primitive scenery, clear, cold streams
of the past 20 years for a 7-day boat trip. on the Tramway
and the best trout fishing in the Southwest. Adults $2.50-Children (1.00
Half-fares, too.
Half Price for Everyone After 5!
And, for JULY-AUGUST, come with us to FOR INFORMATION AND MAPS, WRITE
the Canadian Arctic for the trip of a lifetime. Open 8 a.m.—10 p.m. daily.
WHITE MOUNTAIN
Larabee and Aleson RECREATION ENTERPRISE PALM SPRINGS
Western River Tours
TEASDALE, UTAH
P.O. BOX 218
WHITERIVER, ARIZONA
AERIAL TRAMWAY
Closed 3rd Tuesday each month.

UTAH
The Fabulous Land
for hunting, fishing and retirement
is just being discovered. Proper-
ties of all kinds are available from
2/4 acres to 1000 and the prices
are low. Write for complete list-
ing sheets. No obligation.
D. W. CORRY REAL ESTATE CO.
Box 903 Cedar City, Utah
RECAPTURE!
the fun of adventure in the Red Rock
Country . . . beauty and serenity in
• Indian Country.
J H o L f l J V E R t h e excitement of geolo-
w i w w w i h i i g y i n textbook country
. . . the paradox of river running in
I desert country.
Write for free information
Tours of the Big Country
RECAPTURE COURT MOTEL
Gene and Mary Foushee
Historic Bluff, Utah
P. S. Everything for the traveler
Kent Frost's
Canyonland Tours
See the superb wilderness scenery in
the nation's newest
CANYONLANDS
NATIONAL PARK
For additional information write:
KENT OR FERN FROST
295 Blue Mt. Drive
Monticello, Utah
Phone 587-2787 UCKED AWAY in a canyon off- In a U.S.G.S. Water Supply paper
shoot near the Salton Sea lies a palm- publisher in 1909, Walter R. Men-
ringed oasis appropriately named denhall mentions the pumping of
PEACE RIVER BOAT TRIPS Hidden Spring. Once this spot was water from Dos Palmas Springs to
ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
a playground for venturesome desert the Orocopia Mine, 12 miles to the
Fishing, photography, gemstones, fossils,
gold panning, mountain climbing, deserted
travelers, but then came the All-Am- north. The purpose of this report
trading posts, abandoned gold mines. erican Canal and the canyon entrance was to furnish accurate information
Fall Moose hunting with horses, 2 and 3 to (he spring was blocked. on watering places along regularly
day scheduled trips leave Fridays and Mon-
Many a desert dweller who had traveled trails. Hidden Spring's lo-
lounged in this haven cooled by can- cation did not qualify it for an offi-
days respectively. Charter trips at any time.
For brochures, information, reservations
write airmail or phone yon breezes rushing up from Salton cial listing, but Menclenhall did make
KYLLO BROS. Sea resented the infringement of pro- a passing reference to it. He had been
Class " A " Licensed Guides & Outfitters gress upon tranquility, especially describing a nearby spring which has
Box 511, Fort St. John, B.C., Canada when summer temperatures soared since disappeared, then, referring to
Phone 604-785-3027
Mile 47 on Alaska Highway well over a 100 degrees. My own Hiddep Spring, he continued, ". . .
regret abated, however, when some up another canyon in a little side
years later I came upon a new en- glen is a beautiful clump of palms
TRIANGLE TOUR trance to the spring. Erosion had with a spring of pure water beneath
MONUMENT VALLEY created changes, but the quiet charm them."
RAINBOW NATURAL BRIDGE was still there and, to me, it was like Last May, accompanied by some
NAVAJO MOUNTAIN MULEY POINT meeting an old friend. San Diego friends, 1 set out to re-
THE GREAT GOOSENECKS LAKE POWELL
The Orocopia Mountains, in which discover my circuitous route to this
FLY IT — JEEP IT — BOAT IT Hidden Spring is located, extend little known retreat. It was to be a
ALL 3 WAYS IN 3 DAYS ON THIS eastward from the Coachella Canal trip for relaxation and shedding ten-
COMFORTABLE COMBINED TOUR for about 25 miles. The name of the sions built up by metropolitan living,
CHOICE OF STARTING DATES range means "abundant gold," a name but as we descended into the desert
AND PLACES taken from a mining company of the c;n Highway 78, it began to seem like
Write for Brochure
same name which operated in the a foolhardy venture. Thermometer
Glen Canyon Boating area around the beginning of the readings edged over the 100 degree
WHITE CANYON, UTAH
present century. mark until we reached Hidden
A New Dimension in
Lifting and Pulling Power
Deluxe Heavy Duty

ELECTRIC WINCH
3000 Lb. Pull/Lift Capacity

Designed to operate at 12 or 24 volt D.C.
Spool capacity—250 feet of 3/16" or 1/4"
wire rope, operating at a rate of 32 feet
per minute. Fully reversible, utilizing a
positive finger tip control switch for instan-
taneous action. 100% safety factor. Motor
and gear train has ball bearing construction
throughout. Positive load control brake
assembly enables you to suspend heavy
Spring's canyon and fell under the sun or shade, depending upon the loads without slippage. A trouble-free, com-
spell of its unexpected breeze and time of year. However, if physical pact unit for truck, jeep, tractor, boat,
spreading ironwood trees. One of the activity is desired, there are steep camper, ranch, garage, etc. Dimensions:
Overall length 24" x 8Vi" wide, including
compensations for the late spring heat ridges to climb, caves to explore, and switch box 8" high. Cable spool is 8" long
was the brilliant floral display—as maze-like passages rarely reached by x 23/4" dia. hub x 2'A" flange. Can easily
be mounted at any angle. Weight—67 lbs.
though a master gardener had gath- sunlight. And, as a pleasant climax, net. Complete satisfaction guaranteed. One
ered specimens from the desert at there is an unusual cave where the of the finest and most powerful units on
large to present them in one splen- temperature is many degrees lower the market today.
Less cable. No. J-98D
did showing. Palo verde, ironwood, than the outside air. Our group
smoke tree — all burst in radiant
bloom. Even the usually drab creo-
named it "The Ice Box."
OXMAN ENTERPRISES
Ever since the automobile acquired Dept. T-400 - P. 0. Box 55
sote bush sported yellow blossoms a low-slung chassis off-trail locales La Mirada. Calif. • Phone 213-943-4286
and tufts of snowy white. such as Hidden Sj"•••ing have been TERMS: Check with order or 5 0 % deposit with
available only to 4-wheel drive ve- C.O.D. All orders shipped F.O.B. ta Mirada, Calif.
As dusk approached, a series of Purchase Orders accepted from well rated firms.
high-pitched squeaks echoed from a hicles. Now, however, new car buyers
canyon cave. Investigation with a are discovering that an inexpensive
option known as a "locking differ-
flashlight revealed tiny bats hang-
ing like clothespins from the ceiling.
Later in the evening, as we sat
around a gas lantern which substi-
ential" can open new horizons for
desert trave' While a car so equip-
ped cannot ompete with a 4-wheel
FREE!
Helpful brochure
tuted lor a camplire, a pair of kit drive in all situations, it can enter for rock hobbyists!
luxes warily circled the outer rim of desert areas inaccessible for standard
vehicles. On two recent trips to Hid- This new brochure,
light, but no amount of food tossed fresh off the presses, is
in their direction could lure them den Spring, a large station wagon
available without
closer. Less aware of our intrusion with a locking differential kept pace charge to rock hobby-
with three 4-wheeIers as if it were ists and readers of
«. built for the job, winding in and out Desert Magazine. Spe-
of the sandy washes with no hint of cial sections on sharp-
bogging down. ening, reversing and
To reach Hidden Spring, follow the installation of diamond
Box Canyon road out of Mecca to the
blades for better lapi-
dary cutting... also
cjirt road that extends southward includes useful tips on
just west of the Coachella Canal. Con- coolants, lubricants,
tinue on this road for about six miles speeds and feeds, and
to wash number 31, then proceed up other suggestions on
i he wash for two miles, where a how to get longer and better wear from
branch road leads to the left over a your cutting equipment. Compact and
a ridge and down into a large wash easy-reading, well-illustrated. Write
for about three miles. Turn to the today for your copy.
were lamiles of spiny haired pocket right where the road winds around
mice who performed a sort of dance a large tree, then continue up the Please mail me your free brochure, "Do's
around our improvised fire, picking wash for another three miles, which & Don'ts for Lapidary Cutting."
up crumbs along the way. Sounds did should bring you close to the entrance Name
not disturb them, but quick motions of Hidden Spring. This opening has Address
on our part finally sent them scurry- been blasted in solid black rock and
City, State—
ing with kangaroo-like hops into the is easily identified. The numbering
darkness. of the washes along the canal route MK DIAMOND PRODUCTS
is lor the purpose of marking the 12600 Chadron,
The serene environment at Hidden Hawthorne, Calif.
Spring seems to suggest nothing more locations where canal water is divert-
strenuous than stretching out in the ed beneath the washes. /// M K DIAMOND • SINCE IS66

REAL TREASURE
Continued from Page 27
Desert Lily (hesperocallis undu-

lata) usually grows on dunes or other
loose sandy soil. New basal leaves
may be seen early in the year, but the
CUSTOM MADE plant does not develop its main stalk
until mild weather. The bulb from
AUTO SUN SHADES which it grows served as a food item HENRY R. MOCKEL
• "Take the sizzle out of the sun." to Indian tribes and early Spanish AND
<• Block sun's rays yet allow excellent settlers who used it like garlic and BEVERLY MOCKEL
visibility.
• Improves air conditioning efficiency.
named it Ajo.
invite you to view the continuous showing
» Keeps car up to 15° cooler.
Ocotillo (fouquieria spendens) . of
« Ideal for campers, travelers, and ordinary
driving. Although this plant is spiny, it is not HENRY MOCKEL'S
<• Easily installed with enclosed instructions. limited editions original serigraphs, water-
a cactus. It looks like a bundle of colors and oil paintings.
<> Custom made for sedans, hardtops, and
wagons 1955-1965.
thorny canes, 1-15 feet high. At times
Enjoy his delightful Desert Flower, Road-
« Free catalog and prices. Give make and it appears dead, but a little rain runner and Scenic Desert Notes in living
model of 2 or 4 door wagon, sedan, or changes not only the color of the color. 67 designs to choose from. Box of
hardtop. bark to a vivid green, but leaves will 12, $1.50, sent postpaid. Free illustrated
SIDLES MFG. CO cover the stems and at the end of each brochures.
Box 3537D Temple, Texas
a brilliant cluster of small tubular Wholesale and retail
blossoms presents itself. The spec- Open Sundays — Closed Mondays
tacle endures while moisture is avail-
AMERICA'S able. PIONEER ART GALLERY
5686 THE PLAZA
NEW VACATIONLAND! Twentynine Palms, California 92277
Desert Catalpa (chilopsis linearis)
LAKE POWELL
is also known as Desert Willow. The
RAINBOW BRIDGE
tree may be 15 feet high in the flower-
IT'S
GLEN CANYON DAM FREE
ing season, is profusely covered with
TRIPS from ONE HOUR to FIVE DAYS orchid-like blossoms ranging from N EW
Fishing unexcelled. Water Sports. Finest pale pink to blue-purple. I have A 32-PAGE
photography. Complete Marina. Boat and seen three growing close together,
Motor Rentals. Accommodations. New Motel. CATALOGUE
each having it's own distinctly colored
Write for Information blooms. It is found in dry washes in
ART GREENE both upper and lower deserts.
CANYON TOURS INC.
WAHWEAP LODGE and MARINA
Mojave Yucca (yucca schidigera).
Metal Detectors
BOUGHT - SOLD - TRADED
P. O. Box 1597 Page, Arizona
To find one of these large lilies in
Phone 645-2761 full bloom is an unusual experience. Dealer For
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PEGLEG entific explanation of the black nug- away, so the gold waa aimply buried
Continued from Page 22 gets, but during the past 10 years I in a pocket of what had once been
black nuggets was well enough known have read a great deal about gold and a stream bed.
that it wouldn't be a good idea to gold mining and do have a fair know- In the case of the Pegleg nuggets,
show anybody a black nugget while • ledge of the subject. I believe the continuing erosion of
trying to find out what it was. I'd Had these nuggets been in a run- land that finally turned into a desert,
scraped through the black varnish or ning stream all these years, like those exposed the nuggets again on the
coating with my pocket knife, so may- found in California's mother lode surface.
be there was a way to remove it so country, then the action of the water Within 10 days of the first discov-
I could show something that wasn't and sand would have kept them clean ery I was back at Pegleg Hill, this
black. After some trouble I finally and shiny with perhaps some oxida- time with a metal detector and a
removed the black coating from one tion in the pits or cavities in the nug- small shovel. I stayed there six days
nugget and took it to an assay labora- gets. and brought out 720 ounces of nug-
tory. They ran a spectroscopic assay gets that later netted me a little over
and it was, indeed, gold. The point is this: pure 1000 fine
gold, or even gold with 10 to 15% $20,000.00.
I later learned that the so-called silver alloy, will not tarnish and will Now that I knew exactly how to
black desert varnish, or coating, on stay golden in color under almost any get there, the problem became one of
the nuggets was simply copper oxide. circumstances. It is possible that a hiding or concealing my trail so that
Most gold found in it's native state, coating of some kind may build up no one could follow me. This is the
particularly in California, is usually on the outside surface, but in the main reason why I went there only
alloyed with silver which averages 10 case of the Pegleg nuggets it is the two or three times a year. I was very
to 20%. The Pegleg black nuggets copper that turned them black. careful to fill up all the holes I dug
contain about 70% gold, 20% silver As to the origin of the Pegleg gold, to recover nuggets located with the
and 10% copper. It was the copper my theory is that millions of years metal detector and to replace the
molecules that oxidized and gave the ago gold was present in a lode or pebbles and make the surface look as
nuggets their black color. Later I vein that was embedded in a moun- undisturbed as possible.
will explain my theory of the origin tain. As the mountain slowly eroded
of the Pegleg gold, but at one time or There were other questions that
another all of the nuggets were either away, the gold, being heavier than came up. I thought seriously of going
uncovered by the elements and ex- the surrounding material, gradually in to file a claim, but after careful
posed to the heat of the sun and the worked its way down into the lower thought I discarded the idea. The
oxygen in the air for long periods of areas. It is known that the Salton minute I filed a claim, then at least
time which allowed the copper to Sea basin was part of the Gulf of one other person would know the
form into black oxides or, at some California and probably at one time location. Obviously I wasn't going to
time, perhaps millions of years ago, received quantitites of rain. The ac- mention the gold, but the very fact
after the nuggets were alluviated, i.e.tion of the water and sand on the that I filed a claim on a particular
had their sharp edges worn off by nuggets alluviated or rounded the spot in the desert might just make
abrasive action of sand and water, sharp edges off of them and utlimately somebdy curious enough to talk and
they were exposed to either volcanic most of the gold in the lode or vein someone else curious enough to go
made it's way to the bottom of the
heat or the internal heat of the earth's snooping around. The worst fear here
crust which caused the copper mole- watercourse. Undoubtedly there was was the fact that the nuggets could be
cules to oxidize and turn black. shifting of the earth's crust and prob- found on the surface or close to the
ably what was once a stream bed was surface, and even if I filed a legal
Let me say here that I am neither lifted up or possibly buried com- claim I couldn't spend the rest of my
a mining engineer nor a geologist, pletely. The original mountain life standing guard over it with a
and there may be a more precise, sci- carrying the lode was totally eroded double-barrelled shotgun. Or, if I
•.,..•• CAMPO

hired someone to guard the claim, Tin's was desirable in view of the Pegleg Hill that contained, nuggets.
what was to prevent him from picking plan I had to dispose of them. The hill itself and a large mound
up nuggets or telling someone else? The first thing I decided was to about 60 yards to the west. During
Once the word got out, nothing on never sell or display any of the nug- the six days of the second trip I cov-
earth could ever have prevented a gets anywhere in the Southwest. What ered the whole countryside for several
stampede of people from over-run- I did that first summer was to fly up miles in all directions, searching care-
ning the claim. Nothing could have to Nome, Alaska, taking the nuggets fully for nuggets and using the metal
come out of it except trouble in with me. The gold dredges were still detector everywhere. It was the detec-
cue form or another. No, the gold operating there and gold nuggets tor that located the nuggets in the
had been there all those years. I de- were rather plentiful around town in mound, as all of them were under-
cided to take my chances and play it the various curio and jewelry stores. ground from about four inches down
alone and in secrecy. Time has prov- I soon got on friendly terms with to two feet, where I discovered some
en me right. some of the prospectors hanging of the largest nuggets. The three hills
The next most important thing around, learned the jargon of placer of the original Pegleg story were not
was how to sell or dispose of the nug- mining and went up the creeks my- in evidence.
gets. The thing that bothered me self to "prospect." Actually I just In any event, I've covered the
most was the fact that black gold nug- camped out, did a bit of hunting ground so thoroughly that I believe
gets would arouse or provoke curi- and fishing, enjoyed my vacation I've found every nugget both on the
osity anywhere and talk would be thoroughly, did some "panning" with surface and underground within
rampant. Sooner or later the cat my gold pan and generally went range of the most powerful and sensi-
would be out of the bag, especially, through the motions of placer min- tive detector. In short, I've found all
if I tried to sell any sizable quantity ing. Back in Nome I let it be known the easy gold. I've got my share of
of black gold nuggets at one time. that 1 had worked hard, had found a the Pegleg black nuggets and then
The first problem, therefore, was the little "color," but nothing to get ex- some.
matter of removing the black color. cited about. I then sold the gold a I've wondered whether I should
After serious study and a good deal few ounces at a time to various reveal the location now that I've
ol experimentation, I finally devised stores, jewelry makers, private parties cleaned out all of the easy gold, but
a method to accomplish what I and anyone else that was interested, if I did there would still be a wild
wanted. By dipping the nuggets into but never more than 15 ounces at stampede and I would always feel
a hot chemical bath, all the copper one time. some sense of responsibility for all the
oxide was dissolved and stripped off, Why all the secrecy? Well, the stra- hardship and struggle of those who
leaving the bright yellow gold nug- tegy worked in that I've kept the dis- failed to find the gold.
gets. Certain solutions, I discovered, covery of the Pegleg a secret these 10 I'm sure there are more nuggets
would strip off most of the copper, years, and undoubtedly could for underground, probably great quan-
but still leave the nuggets with a red- 10 more. tities of them along the ancient water-
dish tint which was quite natural. Actually, there were two areas at course into which they were washed
ages ago. They may be anywhere from
Uncover the secrets of the four feet to thousands of feet under-
ground, or wherever the twisting and
West's romantic history... faulting of the earth's crust has ex-
gem-minerals and cultural posed or buried them. There may
even be other places where they can
artifacts of past ages lie be found on the surface as I found
hidden in these legendary them on Pegleg Hill and the mound,
and it may be miles away.
areas of lost mines and
I've also thought about going in to
buried treasure... file the claim now, but again I dis-
carded the idea. Why? To go after
Follow the old trails of the Spaniards, Padres, Indians and Prospectors with more of Pegleg's black nuggets would
require the expense of forming a
GOLDAK METAL/MINERAL LOCATORS mining company, taking in partners
or associates, the purchase of expen-
sive equipment, the expense of mov-
model 520-B ing it to the site and the bother of
a thousand and one other problems
The "CHAMPION" that would arise. I'm happy now and
The lightest and most sensitive
metal/mineral locator of its
I've got all I can spend in a lifetime.
type ever developed, the My time is my own with no problems
"Champion" instantly detects
buried metal objects, gold, silver of any kind. I'm healthy and there
and minerals to a depth of really isn't anything else I want.
eight feetl
Fully transistorized, yet of simple, Besides, I'm reminded of the stories
easy-to-operate design, the
"Champion" is equipped with a the Alaskan prospectors told me about
tunable detection head for maximum the men who found a rich pocket of
sensitivity over mineralized ground,
as well as a special, curved, folding
aluminum handle for lighter weight,
gold and after having cleaned it out
ease of storage and balanced, they still were not satisfied and spent
one-hand operation. $127.50 it all digging deeper trying to find
Write or phone today more. Greed is one of man's weak-
for FREE Literature! nesses.
No, I'll say it again. I've got my
THE GOLDAK COMPANY, INC.
share of the black gold and I'm satis-
Dept. DD-3, 1544 Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale, Calif. • CH 5 - 6 5 7 ^ fied. ///

A monthly series featuring the
age-old uses of desert plants by
primitive people everywhere. DtMRT DI$P£ti$ARV
by Sam Hicks X HE PERSON who has never
stretched out on the ground and pil-
siesta time, Cottonwoods also have
definite medicinal values. Indian and
lowed his head against the trunk of Mexican people of the Southwest boil
a Cottonwood tree for a summer a strong disinfectant tea from its
siesta, has missed one of life's most leaves and branch tips with which
gratifying experiences. they cure ulcerated lesions and in-
The Cottonwoods of Southern Cali- fected wounds.
fornia's desert lands provide the nic- The wood has other uses besides
est settings of all for pleasant siestas. that of fuel. Because of its extremely
For 30 years I've been dozing delight- light weight when dry, it was once
I ully under Cottonwoods from Wyo- used extensively for ox-yokes (not to
ming to Mexico, and few people are be confused with the hardwood bows
better qualified to comment on this which encircled the oxen's necks and
enervating pastime than I. To fully held the yokes in place) and, among
appreciate the fine art of taking sum- saddlemakers, it is still a popular
mer siestas, strangers and newcomers wood for making blades for the trees
to afternoon napping out of doors of pack and riding saddles.
might profit by pondering a few The U.S. Cavalry barracks of old
authoritative words on the subject. Fort Cady on the Mojave River east
of Yermo, California, are made of
First, they should realize that Cali-
Cottonwood logs. The Cavalry
fornia's Cottonwoods are especially
moved out of Fort Cady in 1882 after
friendly and that they grow in the
the government decided that wagon
most comfortable places. They re-
train immigrants were no longer in
quire more water than native trees
danger of Indian attacks, but the
like pines and oaks, so therefore are
buildings there are intact and use-
usually found near springs or grow-
able. One end of the barracks, after
ing along the banks of clean stream-
having been occupied for as far back
beds which run water, at least periodi-
as anyone can recall, is still being
cally, each year.
lived in at this writing by a bachelor
To go about a summer siesta pro- who works on the Cady Ranch.
Cottonwood-constructed pack saddle. perly you must lie quietly on your
The frequent occurrence of the
back so you can look up through the
Spanish words Alamo, Los Alamos
leaves at the sky. Next, you begin to
A coltonwood tree in an advanced and Alamitos on maps of the South-
concentrate on the mesage that one
stage of being killed by mistletoe. west is by no means coincidental.
branch of rustling leaves is sending to
Cottonwoods thrive naturally in
a reciprocating cluster of quivering
nearly all our States, but where they
foliage on the far side of the tree.
find water in the warmer climes of
Cottonwood leaves are always chat-
the Southwest they grow to giants of
tering, even though the air is still,
tremendous size and beauty, live for
and their gossipy visits go on and on.
at least a century, and well deserve
They whisper in soothing tones about
the honor of having so many canyons,
abstract matters like the care and
mountains, springs, ranches and vil-
feeding of the newly hatched birds
lages named for them.
on a certain limb, or the silently
changing cloud formation high above. Cottonwoods were regularly plant-
ed by early Californians for shade
Select a position under the tree around ranch dwellings, or to shade
where you will have constant shade liyestock near windmills or barn-
during the timeless period of your yards. The old timers, as a matter of
siesta, and one where your presence convenience, used fence posts made
does not detract measurably from of Cottonwood and, in bottom lands
the ants' urgent business matters. where the earth was moist, an unbe-
Ants always have a main thoroughfare lievable percentage of them would
over which they travel across the sprout, take root and grow into huge
ground and up and down the trunks leafy shelters along the fence lines
of Cottonwoods. If a person takes where many still remain.
the time to avoid this mainstream of
activity, especially if he's a beginner, The chief enemy of Southern Cali-
he can usually sleep longer and fornia's Cottonwoods is mistletoe.
sounder. Whenever the parasitic plant is allow-
ed to grow unchecked through the
With just the least amount of" branches of these stately trees it
ellort anyone can soon determine that quickly sucks the life out of them.
a Cottonwood .siesta is equally as re- Then their grotesque skeletons topple
laxing as a sauna, and it's so much and the picturesque landmarks turn
less trouble. full cycle by settling back into the
Besides inducing a joyful sleep at earth. ///

J[W£LRY CRAFTS CATALOG PALMS rizo Creek, but no flowing water and
Continued from Page 26 only an occasional palm tree. I
FREE ^96 pages would advise hikers aginst a traverse
Lapidary - rockhounding - jewelry making. oasis. There are many palms in both of this canyon without ropes, for
add up to a fascinating creative art!
these forks, and occasional pools of there is one dry waterfall where the
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MOUNTINGS—BOOKS—CRAFT TOOLS creeks which drain the Santa Rosa oases in this area is Hidden Palms, a
MACHINERY—SUPPLIES—ETC.
slopes on the south—and there are tributary of Deep Canyon. Visitors
wild palms in both these canyons, but can view this oasis from above by
only occasional pools of water, de- parking the car at the little cabin on
Dept 30 - 1 6 3 3 E. Walnut—Pasadena, Ca pending on the season's rainfall. The the east side of the road about half
headwater of Carrizo is the little way up the Palms-to-Pines grade.
oasis known as Dos Palmas—one of From the parking space at the cabin
Direct From Australia the historic water holes for prospec- it is only a short hike to the top of a
tors ranging over these mountains in low hill back of the cabin. From this
OPALS and SAPPHIRES the early days. More recently the point, the palms in the creekbed
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SPECIAL OFF ER there are now three of them—appear Descent into the canyon involves some
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Opal. All Colours and sizes to cut from of water at their roots. There are steep rock pitch, and is recommended
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an adventure. Rubber soles is the
rule for dry rock climbing.
Deep Canyon, the great gorge
which parallels the Palms-to-Pines
road on the east, has many palm
groups and frequent pools of water,
but is hardly accessible to hikers be-
cause there are three 50 to 100-foot
waterfalls which require roping. The
lower entrance to Deep Canyon has
been reserved by the University of
California as the site of its Desert Re-
search laboratory and is closed to "Canyonland Headquartersfor
the public.
Two other palm canyons in this
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Bear Creek palms are reached by a 51 Spacious Units Located in Quiet, Scenic Surroundings.
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nesia Falls canyon, with a pretty Adjoining Dining Room and Coffee Shop Extending Room Service.
little amphitheater at its entrance, is Ceramic Tile Bathrooms with Tub and Shower. Television.
the pride of Rancho Mirage where
residents are making a valiant effort
to have it set aside as a county park.
Whence came these palms in an 182 S. Main St. Moab, Utah Call 253-9741
arid land, for abundant water is neces- Member Best Western and Automobile Association of America
sary for their growth and health? No
one knows the answer to this ques-
tion. But it is generally believed
they are the decendants of a fringe
MOCCASINS COWBOY BOOTS
of wild palms which grew along the
shoreline of the Gulf of California flancy wesie/m
which long ago covered the entire be- Located in"The Center", long a Palm Springs landmark (across from the Desert Inn), the Grone's
low sea-level basin now known as MOCCASIN SHOP offers over 100 choices for foot comfort. Moccasins with beautiful bead work,
Imperial and Coachella valleys. Oc- velvety-soft imported deerskin, rugged rawhide, durable full-grain cowhide—Some for riding,
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WRITE FOR FREE CATALOG
habitat may be seen along the old
shoreline on the north side of Coa-
chella valley and in the Borrego Bad- MOCCASIN SHOP
lands. 174 NORTH PALM CANYON DRIVE
But this theory does not explain PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA PHONE 325-6425
the greater number of palms grow-
ing in the canyons up to 3200 feet. lie sure to mention DESERT when you patronize our advertisers.
Perhaps prehistoric Indians, who
ground and used the seeds for food,
carried them up creekbeds to their
present habitat. My own conclusion
—and it is only a theory—is that the ffiesett's [finest
lowly coyote deserves much of the
credit for transporting the seeds into
the canyons where the palms now
Shade
grow. The coyotes eat the fruit, but
digest only the sweet skin which cov-
ers the seed. During many years of
CHILEAN MESQUITE
(Prosopis Chilensis)
traversing these canyons I have fre-
quently observed undigested seeds of
the Washingtonias in the dung of
coyotes along the creekbeds. This has
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h
been true both on the California de-
sert and in Baja California where
palm canyons are found on much of Long Lived • Fast Growing • Evergreen Leaves Year 'Round • Transplant Year 'Round, Best
the length of the peninsula. In Winter • Leaves Never Drop • Container Grown • Deep Rooted • Impervious to Disease.
True, the coyote is a chicken thief 3 to 4 Foot Trees Only $4.00—Up to 7 Feet 50 cents per foot additional
and a camp-robber—but he also has SPECIAL PRICES IN LARGE QUANTITIES
his virtues. Unwittingly, of course,
but nevertheless I believe it is true LEO BAUMSTARK, 37974 Vineland Avenue, Cherry Valley, California 92223
that Don Coyote, more than any Area Code 714 BEAUMONT 845-1936
other agent, brought the majestic (Located 3 miles north of Beaumont, Calif, on Beaumont Avenue,
wild palm to the canyons of our des- just off the San Bernardino Freeway.)
ert land. /// (F.O.B. Beaumont, Small Mail Shipping Charge)

INDIANS TODAY but the government limited the tion of the lust poi tiun inaue a live-
leases to short term only. More legal year old child wealthy, and settlement
Continued from Page 19
battles brought a victory in the form of negotiations for the other two par-
of authorization to negotiate long cels gave two six-year-old Indian
of the Indian tribes in Southern Cali- term (up to 99 years) leases. Still owners $350,000 and 50 acres of city
fornia. Not long after his arrival he another victory was won recently land.
acquired 320 acres from the Southern when a government policy of equal
Pacific Railroad for §800, a tract now The land being reserved for the
allotments of land to individuals be- Indians as a tribe (not allotted) in-
incalculably valuable, in the center of came effective. This means that many
Palm Springs. cludes several of the beautiful can-
Indian men, women, and babes in yons that served them so well in the
arms, now own a fortune in Palm early days. Palm Canyon is a 15-mile
The Southern Pacific had been Springs property which can be leased
given many sections of land in a long desert gorge through which
for 99 years or sold, under govern- courses a stream of icy snow water
checkerboard pattern (every other
section) by the U. S. government, in ment supervision. running off the mountains through
payment for construction of a rail- When one wants statistics he should 3000 wild towering Washingtonia
way through the area. The govern- go to the "front office," so I went to palm trees.
ment, considering the remainder of the local office of the Bureau of In-
Some other cities, with active
the checkerboard land almost worth- dian Affairs and talked with the
Chambers of Commerce, might chal-
less, turned it into a reservation for Chairman, Paul W. -Hand. I learned
lenge the claim of this desert resort
the Agua Caliente Indians. Years from Mr. Hand that there are ap-
that it offers the "mostest of the
later this tribe discovered that their proximately 122 living Agua Cali-
bestest," but one thing is certain, no
supposedly worthless land had be- ente Indians at present (an exact
other city in the world has the fabu-
come immensely valuable. count was not available because of
lous Agua Caliente Indians. On this
the population explosion). Also, the
reservation of theirs, I found a
After a long fight the Indians won size of this reservation as of May 31,
friendly tribe who, through the years,
the right to lease some of their land, 1964 was 28,356.2 acres, of which
have suffered the hostilities of nature
26,300.4 acres have been allotted to
on the desert, scooped out shallow
METAL & MINERAL individuals and the remaining 2,055.8
acres are being held in common by
the tribe.
wells with their bare hands, eaten
grasshoppers when their food supply
LOCATORS by A- Now the members of the Agua Cali-
ente tribe are in a position to balance
ran out and even faced the possibility
of extinction at one time.
the books for a shellacking some of I felt happy and proud that, with
their brothers took over 300 years their determination, and the under-
EO ago when the sale of Manhattan Is- standing of the great white father in
FINDER land was consummated with a $24 Washington, these Americans have
now attained a position of respect
payment to the Manhattan Indians.
ALWAYS BETTER ALL WAYS For example, a transaction transpired and human dignity. They really are
a lew years ago whereby a group of heap big Indians—big in spirit, big in
TH£
TITERATURE EEO HINDER co.
Chicago businessmen leased eight ambition, big in courage, and heap
BOX 3 7 , LAKEWOOD, CALIFORNIA.
acres of tribal land for the construc- big in bank accounts. ///
tion of the magnificent $2,000,000
Palm Springs Spa, on the site of the
Stop That Thief original hot water oasis from which MODERN
MINERAL
With A the Agua Caliente Indians took their
PROCESSING
name.
Lock Strap! FLOWSHEETS
Another example of what all of Over 100 flowsheets
$4.00 this good fortune means to the young- —data on over 200 important
ei generation is provided by the fol- minerals—mill designs, metallurgical summaries.
Fits all G.I. cans, holders or carriers, steel A one-volume encyclopedia! Year's most useful
constructed. Electric welded and bright zinc lowing fact. The Palm Springs Air- book! Available in two editions: Deluxe edition
plated. port was constructed originally on $10.00; student's edition $6.60 per copy (plus post-
age). Unconditional money-back guarantee. Book
Add 4 % sales tax for California. No. C.O.D.s leased Indian land, with short term sent postpaid anywhere in the world, if payment
limitations. Recently, the city ac- accompanies order. Mail order to:
LOCK STRAP quired title to three 40-acre parcels Technical PublicationDept. D M
329 W. Lomita Ave., Glendale 4, Calif. Denver Equipment Co.
from three minor Indians. Acquisi- 1400- 17th St.. Denver, Colorado 80217
the going's great! JUST PUBLISHED!

1965 Four Wheel Drive
SPORTING
FOR YOUR
Parts and Accessories Catalog

a WARN HUBS Most complete publication ever printed, this
AND
ON YOUR
34-page, illustrated, 8x11, slick paper cata-
log is packed with detailed facts and prices
on every part, accessory and safety device
VACATION
4-WHEEL DRIVE manufactured. To really make your 4 wheeler NEEDS
These famous hubs save gas. gears, tires, engine, tops in performance and appearance send OR I N F O R M A T I O N , S E E -
improve performance, reduce maintenance costs, one dollar for catalog to
increase vehicle life by disengaging the front drive
in 2-w.d.—automatically, or with manual controls. BRIAN CHUCHUA'S STU GUMMER
To get the most from your 4-w.d. under all condi-
tions, install Warn Hubs. That's what the majority FOUR WHEEL DRIVE CENTER
of 4-w.d. owners do. Write, or see your dealer.
1625 S. Harbor Blvd.
WARN MFG. CO., INC. Fullerton 7, California 82-880 Miles Downtown Indio
9050-DM Empire Way S.,
Seattle, Wash. 98118
DtAlfiL
COOKERY
Food Editor
o
SWISS CASSEROLE BARBECUED BEEF RIBS MALAYSIAN CHICKEN
3 tablespoons butter In heavy pan or Dutch oven, brown In electric skillet, heat 4 tablespoons
1 medium onion, chopped 4 large beef ribs, about 3 lbs., in 2peanut oil with 1 clove crushed gar-
1 green pepper, chopped tablespoons shortening. Turn to lic.
1 clove garlic, chopped, or you brown on l all sides. Set control at 375 and brown four
may use garlic powder Combine A cup vinegar chicken breasts.
1 Vz lbs. lean ground beef 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Pour off excess oil.
Saute onion, pepper and garlic in 1 cup catsup Add 1 cup chicken broth or broth
butter. Add beef and brown slightly. Vz cup water made from chicken bouillon cubes,
To this mixture add: 1 package onion soup mix Vz cup sherry, Vz teaspoon salt, 1
1 No. 2 can tomatoes 1 teaspoon prepared mustard teaspoon powdered ginger.
% cup sharp cheese, cubed Vz cup diced celery Bring to a boil.
Season with 1 teaspoon salt, % tea- 1 teaspoon salt Add 1 can water chestnuts, drained
spoon pepper, 1 teaspoon celery salt After meat is browned, pour off ex- and sliced, and 1 small can pitted
and 1 teaspoon paprika. Cook 1 Vz cess grease. Pour the mixture over ripe olives, drained and sliced.
8 oz. packages spaghetti in boiling meat, cover and simmer for 1 Vz to Cover and simmer for about a half
water until almost tender. Drain but 2 hours, turning occasionally. 4 serv-
hour or until chicken is tender. If
do not rinse. Add to meat mixture. ings. dish begins to dry, add water. Re-
Place in large covered casserole move the chicken and keep warm.
and bake. Stir occasionally. Pass Stir into the sauce 2 tablespoons
grated cheese to top. Bake for 1 hour cornstarch which has been made into
at 300 degrees. ROUND STEAK CASSEROLE a paste with 2 tablespoons cold
water.
1 round steak cut 1 inch thick. clear. Serve Cook about 1 minute or until
Pound in flour with edge of saucer. sauce over chicken.
Brown in cooking oil. Place in cas-
serole and pour over 1 can undiluted
SCALLOPS AU GRATIN onion soup. Cover with sliced pota-
Defrost 1 package frozen scallops toes and carrots. Salt and pepper. RICE WITH MUSHROOMS
1 tablespoon finely cut onion Bake covered for 1 Vz hours at 350 1 cup rice
1 green pepper, finely cut degrees. You may uncover the last 1 cup chopped tomato
1 cup chopped celery 15 minutes to brown. 1 lb. mushrooms, sliced
1 small can mushrooms, drained Vz cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons butter or margarine Vz cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon lemon juice 3 cups chicken broth
Vz can mushroom soup MEAT LOAF Vz cup red wine
Salt, pepper and paprika. 2 lbs. round steak, trim well and 1 teaspoon salt
Grated Swiss or American cheese grind. Either 3 loin pork chops, Pepper to taste
Cook onion, pepper, celery and ground, or a few slices of good pork 1 cup cooked green peas
mushrooms until tender in the but- sausage. V\ cup grated Parmesan cheese
ter. Add scallops and cook gently 1 Vz heaping tablespoons cornstarch In a large skillet, cook rice, tomatoes,
for about 5 minutes. Heat mushroom Salt and pepper to taste mushrooms and onions in the but-
soup with seasonings and lemon Roll 6 small soda crackers fine. Mix ter for about 10 minutes, stirring
juice. Mix gently with scallop mix- all together well. Add about a pint often. Add broth, wine and season-
ture. Pour into a shallow casserole of milk, mix. Shape into loaf. Melt ings, mix well. Cover. Simmer for
or baking dish and cover with a 1 tablespoon butter in loaf pan. about 45 minutes, or until rice is ten-
layer of grated cheese. Bake for Vz Place meat loaf in buttered pan and der and the liquid is absorbed. Stir
hour in 350 degree oven. 4 to 6 ser- cook slowly at 300 degrees for IVa. in peas. Heat, sprinkle with cheese.
vings. to 2 hours. 6 portions.

HOW TO PLACE YOUR AD
• Mail your copy and first-insertion remit-
tance to: Trading Post, Desert Magazine,
Palm Desert, Calif.
• Classified rates are 20c per word, $4
CLASSIFIEDS minimum per insertion.
• AUTO-TRUCK-CAMPER • BOOKS-MAGAZINES • DUDE-GUEST RANCHES

BACK COUNTRY traveler? Investigate National BOOKS: "Old Bottles and Ghost Towns," many DESERT HILLS Guest Ranch, Lucerne Valley, Cali-
Four Wheel Drive Association. Find out what sketches. See Desert, February '63 issue. $2.15 fornia. Housekeeping cottages, single units
it can do for you. National Four Wheel Drive prepaid. Mrs. Adele Reed, 272 Shepard Lane, with bath, meals available, beautiful view,
Association. Box 527, Indio, Calif. Bishop, California. heated pool, quiet, ideal for honeymooners,
writers, artists, etc. Write for brochure. Joe
WW II Jeep Handbook, 380 pages, parts, illu-
"OVERLOOKED FORTUNES" in minerals and gem and Janice Horst, owners, P.O. Box 444,
strations, only $4.50. Back Country Bookstore,
stones; here are a few of the 300 or more Lucerne Valley, California. CH 8-7444.
Box 866F, Tarzana, California 91356.
you may be overlooking: uranium, vanadium,
tin, tungsten, columbium, tantalum, nickel, co-
• EQUIPMENT-SUPPLIES
• BOOKS-MAGAZINES balt, gold, silver, platinum, iridium, beryllium,
emeralds, etc. Some worth $1 to $2 a pound, QUALITY CAMPING and mountaineering equip-
BOOK HUNTING is our business, service is our others $25 to $200 per ounce; an emerald ment. Down sleeping bags, lightweight tents,
product. No charge for search. Satisfaction the size of your thumb may be worth $1000 boots. Free catalog. Highland Outfitters, P.O.
guaranteed. D-J Book Search Service, P.O. or more; learn how to find, identify and Box 121, Riverside, Calif.
Box 3352-D, San Bernardino, Calif. 92404. cash in on them. New simple system. Send
for free copy "Overlooked Fortunes in Min- DAZZLINGLY BEAUTIFUL simulated nugget jewel-
OUT-OF-print books at lowest prices! You name erals", it may lead to knowledge which may ry for pendants and earrings with jump rings
it—we: find it! Western Americana, desert and make you rich! Duke's Research Laboratory, ready to mount, 1 " size $7.20 per dozen,
Indian books a specialty. Send us your wants. Box 666-B, Truth or Consequences, New Vs." $6 per dozen. Two samples $1 postpaid,
No obligation. International Bookfinders, Box Mexico. moneyback guarantee. A rock shop must!
3003-D, Beverly Hills, California. Goldene Products, Drawer O, Sun City, Calif.
LEARN ABOUT gems from Handbook of Gems "GEMS & Minerals Magazine," largest rock hobby
monthly. Field trips, " h o w " articles, pictures,
and Gemology. Written especially for ama-
ads. $4 year. Sample 25c. Box 687J, Mentone, • FOR WOMEN
teur, cutter, collector. Tells how to identify
gems. $3 plus tax. Gemac Corporation, Box California. LADY GODIVA "The World's Finest Beautifier."
808J, Mentone, California. Your whole beauty treatment in one jar.
ARIZONA TREASURE Hunters Ghost Town Guide,
large folded map 1881, small early map, 1200 Write: Lola Barnes, 963 North Oakland, Pasa-
READ "BURIED Treasure and Lost Mines" by
Frank Fish, 93 bonafide locations, photos and place name- glossary, mines, camps, Indian dena 6, California.
illustrations. Research done by Fish, treasure reservations, etc. $1.50. Theron Fox, 1296-E
hunter who made it pay. Large 19x24" color- Yosemite, San Jose, California. • GEMS, DEALERS
ed map, pinpointing book locations. Book
"THE PAST In Glass" Newly revised. Identify the RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA. We have everything
$1.50, map $1.50. Special: both $2.50 post-
unknown bottles in your collection with this for the rock hound, pebble pups, interesting
paid. Publisher: Erie Schaefer, 14728 Peyton
complete book on bottle collecting. Utilize the gifts for those who are not rock hounds.
Drive, Chino, California.
hints on how to collect, identify, and categor- Minerals, slabs, rough materials, lapidary sup-
ize your bottles. $3.25 from authors Pat and plies, mountings, equipment, black lights. Why
NEVADA TREASURE Hunters Ghost Town Guide. and Bob Ferraro, 465 15th Street, Lovelock, not stop and browse? Shamrock Rock Shop,
Large folded map. 800 place name glossary. Nevada. 593 West La Cadena Drive, Riverside, Calif.
Railroads, towns, camps, camel trail. $1.50.
PHILOSOPHY FOR Living! Read weekly New In- OVerland 6-3956.
Theron Fox, 1296-C Yosemite, San Jose 26,
California. dividualist Newsletter, enlivening, challenging, CHOICE MINERAL specimens, gems, cutting ma-
rewarding, intelligent. Four issues free. Write terial, machinery, lapidary and jeweler's sup-
BOOKS: "PANNING Gold for Beginners," 50c. P.O. Box 145, Mercer Island, Washington. plies, mountings, fluorescent lamps, books.
"Gold in Lode," $3. Frank J. Harnagy, Box California contact (area code 714) 328-2047. Sumner's, 21108 Devonshire, Chatsworth, Cal.
105, Prather, California.
DESERT FROM first issue to March 1962, nearly
GHOST TOWN Guide: Complete guide to over complete. First eleven years complete in •JSEMS, MINERALS - FOSSILS
100 ghost towns in California, only $1.95. A. binders. Also miscellaneous copies. Make
Abbott, Dept. 21, 1513 West Romneya Drive, offer. Box 974, Yucca Valley, California 92284. POCKET GOLD, rare, crystaline, $2. Placer gold
Anaheim, California. $2. Gold dust $1. Goldbearing black sand $1.
GHOST TOWN Bottle Price Guide, 1965 revised Attractively displayed. Postpaid, guaranteed.
TREASURE HUNTER'S new monthly publication. edition, enlarged to 72 pages, $2.25 postpaid. Lester Lea, Box 1125-D, Mount Shasta, Calif.
Write for free sample copy. The Gold Bug, Wes Bressie, Route 1, Box 582, Eagle Point,
P.O. Box 88, Alamo, California. Oregon 97524. FOSSILS: 3500 Species. Catalog, plates: $1 (stamps
okay). Fossil sets: $2 up. Buying, exchanging
WANTED: DESERT Magazines, Volume 1 through
"SUN-COLORED GLASS, It's Lure and Lore," 50 fossils, too. Write for details. Need plants,
Volume 27 complete. Must be in good condi-
pages, illustrated, $2.75 postpaid. Mary J. trilobites, ammonites, brachiopods, mollusks,
tion. State price desired. J. Hollingsworth,
Zimmerman, Dept. D., Box 2641, Amarillo, echinoids, etc. Malicks' Fossils, 5514 Plymouth
634 W. Maplewood Ave., Fullerton, Calif.
Texas. Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21214.
"THE BOTTLE Trail," 1, 2, 3, 4. Pioneer bottle
HARD-TO-FIND Books located through world- histories, $1.65 each postpaid. May Jones,
w i d j contacts. All fields Americana to Zoology. Box 23, Nara Visa, New Mexico 88430.
• GEMS^ROUGH MATERIAL^
Book Lance, 6631 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood,
Calif. 90028. FACETING ROUGH. Many common, rare, and
• CLOTHING unusual types. Custom faceting. Write for
SELLING BACK issues Desert, Arizona Highways, price list. Glenn Vargas, Route 1, Box 366,
Montana, New Mexico, Alaska magazines. DOWN-FILLED clothing for the winter sports- Thermal, California.
Virginia Burgman, 8057 El Manor Ave., Los man designed by the leading manufacturer of
SUPERIOR AGATES, 1/4 to % inches, $1 1b. Vi to
Angeles, California 90045. lightweight, cold weather clothing. Free bro-
13/4 in. banded, $2.50 Ib. Tumble polished
chure, Gerry, Dept. 90, Box 910, Boulder,
BACKWARD THROUGH a Bottle-Ghost towns, $3.50 Ib. Send postage. Frank Engstrom, Grey
Colorado.
bottles, relics, history of Arizona Territory, $2. Eagle, Minnesota.
Kay Devner, 8945 East 20th, Tucson, Arizona
85705. • DESERT STATIONERY •JiOME^TUDY
ARIZONA HIGHWAYS Magazine, miscellaneous DESERT, CACTUS flowers, roadrunners note- LEARN OIL painting by correspondence. Ama-
copies from 1940 through 1962. Fifteen com- cards on vellum. Dozen assorted: $1.50. Free teur or advanced. Easy, fascinating, natural-
plete volumes: 4 in binders, 324 issues in brochure. 100 Desert Notes, $10.75. By artist istic. No time limit. Easy payments. Free de-
lot. First $75 takes all. J. G. Hughes, 2595 Henry Mockel, Box 726, Twentynine Palms, tails. Walker School of Art, Box 486, Mont-
Massachusetts Ave., Lemon Grove, California. Calif. rose 1, Colorado.

t INDIAN GOODS • MINING • TREASURE FINDERS
SELLING 20,000 Indian relics. 100 nice ancient PROSPECTING EQUIPMENT. Everything for the FIND LOST or hidden treasures with new tran-
arrowheads $25. Indian skull $25. List free. prospector, mineralogist and rock hound. Send sistor metal defector, underwater metal de-
Lear's, Glenwood, Arkansas. 25c for 44 page catalog. Inquiries invited. tectors, scintillation counters, etc. Free litera-
Miners & Prospectors Supply, 1345 E. Fire- ture. Gardiner Electroncis, Dept. 5 1 , 4729
FINE RESERVATION-MADE Navajo, Zuni, Hopi stone, Goleta, California. North 7th Ave., Phoenix, Arizona.
jewelry. Old pawn. Many fine old baskets,
moderately priced, in excellent condition ASSAYS. COMPLETE, accurate, guaranteed. High- FINEST TRANSISTOR metal locators, $34.95 to
Navajo rugs, Yei blankets, Chimayo blankets, est quality spectrographic. Only $4.50 per $275. Find coins, souvenirs, treasure. Informa-
pottery. A collector's paradise! Open daily sample. Reed Engineering, 620-R So. Ingle- tive folder, "Metal Locating Kinks," 25c.
10 to 5:30, closed Mondays. Buffalo Trading wood Ave., Inglewood, California. IGWTD, Williamsburg, New Mexico.
Post, Highway 18, Apple Valley, California. POWERFUL METROTECH locators detect gold, sil-
AUTHENTIC INDIAN jewelry, Navajo rugs, Chi- • OLD COINS, STAMPS ver, coins, relics. Moneyback guarantee. Terms,
free information. Underground Explorations,
mayo blankets, squaw boots. Collector's items.
UNCIRCULATED SILVER dollars, 1878-79-80-81-82 Dept. 3A, Box 793, Menlo Park, California.
Closed Tuesdays. Pow-Wow Indian Trading
S mint or 1883-84-85 O mint $2.50 each. 1878
Post, 19967 Ventura Blvd., East Woodland NEW SUPERSENSITIVE transistor locators detect
CC mint VF $7.50. New 100-page catalog 50c.
Hills, Calif. Open Sundays. buried gold, silver, coins. Kits, assembled
Shultz, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110.
models. $19.95 up. Underwater models avail-
ESTATE SALE-Three chests fine old Navajo able. Free catalog. Relco-A18, Box 10563
blankets. List and color photos available with • PHOTO SUPPLIES Houston, 18, Texas.
deposit. Box 972, Santa Cruz, California 95061.
RAPID, CONVENIENT mail service for quality DISCOVER BURIED loot, gold, silver, coins, battle-
ZUNI FETISHES-Can supply Zuni Fetishes in all black-white or color film finishing. Write for field and ghost town relics, with most power-
sizes, materials and figures. Have reprints of our free bargain brochure. The complete pho- ful, sensitive transistorized metal detectors
Ruth Kirk's "Introduction to Zuni Fetishes." tographic store since 1932: Morgan Camera available. Two Year Warranty. Free literature.
Will try to locate any Indian items wanted Shop, 6262 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 28, Calif. Goldak, Dept. DM, 1544 W. Glenoaks, Glen-
by collectors. Have modern Papago baskets dale, California 91201.
and Navajo and Hopi jewelry for dealers. The
Brookes, Indian Arts & Crafts, 1914 East Ava- • PLANTS, SEEDS FIND UNDERWATER placer gold, $1000's re-
lon Drive, Phoenix, Arizona 85016. covered, 100 page handbook shows how,
1965 WILDFLOWER and Wild Tree Seed Catalog, where. $3. Back Country Bookstore, Box
$18,000.00 WORTH of all kinds of Indian relics, lists over 700 choice varieties including many 866AA, Tarzana, California.
coins, weapons, gemstones, antiques, collec- bonsai. Scientific name, common name. In-
tor's items, offered at wholesale prices. formative, artistic, trade secrets revealed. 50c. FUN AND profit finding buried treasure, relics
Enormous selection from three estates. Appro- Clyde Robin, Collector of Wildflower and with transistor M-Scope. Booklet, interesting
val orders, photos, price list for stamp. Per- Wild Tree Seeds, P.O. Box 2091-D, Castro customer comments free. Terms. Fisher Re-
fect arrowheads, 20c each. Satisfaction guar- Valley Calif. For beautiful spring blooms search, Dept. JX, Palo Alto, California.
anteed. Sweetwater Valley Trading Post, Box plant wildflower seeds in early winter.
68, Bonita, California.
CLEANED CHIA Seed, 10 ounces $2., 2 lbs. $5. • WESTERN MERCHANDISE
Pollen: 8 ounces $4., 1 Ib. $7. Postpaid.
• JEWELRY Uncleaned, uninspected Chia seed, 100 lbs.
GHOST TOWN items: Sun-colored glass, amethyst
to royal purple; ghost railroads materials,
GENUINE TURQUOISE bolo ties $1.50, 11 stone $35. Pollen Chia Commerce, 854-8 9th St., tickets; limited odd items from camps of the
turquoise bracelet $2. Gem quality golden Santa Monica, California. '60s. Write your interest—Box 64-D, Smith,
tiger-eye $1.75 pound, beautiful mixed agate Nevada.
baroques $3 pound. Postage and tax extra. FOR HEALTH certain cactus apples equal Chia.
Tubby's Rock Shop, 2420V2 Honolulu Ave., Free recipe and cactus starts. Smoketrees and
other natives, from $1. Rancho Environmental • ^tlSCELLANEbljS
Montrose, California.
Nursery, 71554 Samarkand Drive, Twentynine SOUR DOUGH Biscuit, Sour Dough Pancake and
VISUALIZE A beautiful rainbow in all its pastel Palms, California 92277. Son-of-a-Gun Stew recipes with full direc-
colors and you have our Nautilus heart,
CHIA SEED. High-energy food. Free information, tions, $1 each. Frank Murdock, Dalhart, Texas.
carved from the heart of the Nautilus shell.
Unusually beautiful. Eardrop and pendant recipes, VA pound $1.75. 1 pound $4.95. Or-
PONY-BOY Clothes Hanger. Teaches children to
set, $2.99. Light to deep golden pearl drops, ganic Herb and Seed Company, 3645 Main,
be neat 'n tidy. "Pony-Hoi-Mi-Coat" makes it
carved from the gold lip pearl oyster shell, Chula Vista, Calif. 92011.
fun, too! 12" tall wooden ponyhead plaque
scarce and hard to obtain, necklace and ear- OLD FASHION large gourd seeds, mixed types, has 2 brass hooks, leather bridle, reins and
drop set, $3.99 to $4.99, tax and postage certified. 50 seeds $1. Ornamental, useful movable ears. Hang one in the children's
paid. All genuine. A & A Rock Shop, 3930 for birdhouses, Christmas decorations, con- room, and playroom. Palomino-beige, or bright
South Wilton PI., Los Angeles, Calif. 90062. versation pieces, etc. Certi-Seeds, 5915D Sho- red pony. $4.45. R. L. Montrie, 11811 Gray
shone Avenue, Encino, California. stone Ave., Norwalk, Calif. 90652.
• MAPS CHIA (SALVIA Columbariae). Still time to plant GOING ON a trip, looking for a lost treasure,
SECTIONIZED COUNTY maps — San Bernardino for summer harvest. Send $1 for seed packet, hunting safari? Wherever you go, if you
$3; Riverside $ 1 ; Imperial, small $1, large $2; planting instructions. Route 4, Box 439A, Es- need assistance, we are two men 30 years of
San Diego $1.25; Inyo $2.50; Kern $1.25; condido, California 92025. age looking for adventure. Experienced in
other California counties $1.25 each. Nevada mountains. For more information or proposi-
counties $1 each. Include 4 percent sales tax. tions, write to: C. D. Jackson, 901 Jackson
Topographic maps of all mapped western
• REAL ESTATE
Street, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901.
areas. Westwide Maps Co., 114 West Third FOR INFORMATION on desert acreage and par-
Street, Los Angeles 13, California. cels for sale in or near Twentynine Palms,
MAP MEASURE for your travels. Now you can please write to or visit: Silas S. Stanley, Realtor,
WITH YOUR DESERT SUBSCRIPTION GIFT
measure the mileage of your planned vaca- 73644 Twentynine Palms Highway, Twenty-
tion trip in seconds. It measures the distance nine Palms, California. INCLUDE A
' on map as you mark the route with a built-in
ANTELOPE VALLEY, near Idaho's 3,000,000
crayon. Simply roll wheel over route and
acre Primitive Area, River of No Return, famous
1965 BINDER
you have the exact distance in miles. $1.95.
Sun Valley resort, lakes, mountains. Unex-
R. L. Montrie & Co., 11811 Graystone Ave., Each Imitation Spanish Leather
celled hunting, fishing. Good roads. Lots under
Norwalk, Calif. 90652. Hard Cover Binder Holds
$500—$10 down. Free information. Sun Valley,
Inc., Box 389-DM, Twin Falls, Idaho. 12 ISSUES
• j M E X I C A N j A U T O INSURANCE^
400,000,000 ACRES government land in 25
GET INSURANCE in Mexico's largest casualty states. Some low as $1 acre. 1965 report. Only $3.50
company through Sanborn's—by mail or at Details, send $1 to National Land, 422-DM, Includes tax and postage
affiliated service offices in El Centro, Yuma, Washington Building, Washington, D.C.
Nogales, El Paso. Write for daily insurance
rates—and ask for free Mexico Travel-Aid MUST SELL, for $3000, furnished four-room home, DESERT MAGAZINE
packet, very helpful in planning your Mexico good title, big lot, one block off town center, PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA 92260
motor trip. Sanborn's, McAllen, Texas 78502. $1000 down. Box 222, Chloride, Arizona.

Man, I Dig Those C l a m s ! . . .
WILDERNESS LETTERS To the Editor: I am an amateur paleontolo-

gist specializing in invertebrate fossils. I
was very interested in a letter to the
FROM OUR READERS editor in the January '64 issue of DESERT.
It told about fossil shells north of Thou-
EXPEDITIONS sand Palms, Calif. Recently my wife and I,
armed with the magazine and a geological
Letters requiring answers must en- map of the area, located the fossil beds.
FOR 11965 close stamped, addressed envelopes
The letter was right in every respect. The
Fossils are in the Imperial formation and
are of lower Pliocene age. This the same
The Gran Desierto . . . formation as that in Alverson canyon in
Imperial County. We found dosina clams
To the Editor: I read with interest the ar- (Turritella imperialis), Spiral turret shells,
ticle on James Powell's search for the and perfect barnacle shells of the (Balanus)
Laguna Prieto and the possible lost mis- genus.
sion in the Gran Desierto area of Mexico To get to the location, go east on Ramon
which was printed in the December '64 Rd. from U.S. 99, 5.5 miles to the location.
BOATING issue of DESERT Magazine. I studied this
area on an old Mexican map and in the You will see two bright yellow houses just
north of the road. About 300 feet of the
general vicinity where he was searching road to the yellow houses is the yellow
• CATARACT CANYON (but not on the hike he took) is shown the patch on the hill. This is the fossil location.
"Cerro Prieto," which means "Dark Hill," The Indio hills are very close to the road
• DESOLATION CANYON and close by is the "Lago de los Volcanes" here and a 2 minute walk will bring you
which means "Lake of the Pits." This is to the fossils. This is a great advantage to
• SALMON RIVER shown surrounded on four sides by tribu- the non-four wheel drive owner. It should
taries of the Colorado River and not far be stressed here that if any vertebrate bones
• YUKON RIVER away from both the Lake and the Dark are discovered by the fossil hunter, DO
Hill is shown the "Colonia Lerdo," which NOT REMOVE THEM! Call the Los An-
means "Colony of the Dull Witted." The
• MISSOURI RIVER small map accompanying your article and geles County Museum for advise. Other-
others currently available do not show the wise, you might wreck an important scien-
three places I mention above, so it may tific find.
well be that the Dark Hill and Lake of ROY A. SALLS,
Pits (possible fresh water seepage) could Los Angeles, California.
indicate the Dark or Black Lagoon and the
HIKING Colony Lerdo is where the tower has been Authority Questioned . . .
seen from the air.
To the Editor: In reference to the article
• ESCALANTE CANYON JOHN BRUORTON, by Retta Ewers about Lee's Lost Lode in
Glendale, California the Jan. '65 issue, there are certain mis-
• KANAB CANYON statements that should be corrected in
No Damper on This Camper... regard to former California governor Rob-
• DIRTY DEVIL RIVER ert Waterman. He was a highly respected
To the Eidtor: Having very recently pur- man, honest beyond any doubt.
• ZION NARROWS chased a camper and finding your magazine If any of the things Mrs. Ewers says had
at the same time, I expect to enjoy the happened, my grandfather could not have
countryside very much in the future. Your been elected Lt. Governor, let alone re-
Nov. issue was responsible for a very won- ceived over 10,000 more votes than Gov.
derful 4-day Thanksgiving trip to Death Bartlett, whom he succeeded.
Valley. Thank you for publishing a unique I am in my 76th year, retired, and not
PACKING magazine like DESERT.
ORIK SEARS,
too active.
R. W. WATERMAN,
Wilmington, California. Wickenburg, Arizona.
• ESCALANTE CANYON
• KAIPAROWITS PLATEAU
tivo prestige developments!
PALM DESERT HIGHLANDS

SEND NOW FOR OUR The Bel Air of the desert
EXPEDITION LITERATURE
Have you ever dreamed in technicolor? You will think you are
when you stand on one of these breathtaking view lots. Now
being subdivided—a street with all underground utilities.
FAIRWAY HEIGHTS
Wonderland Adjoining the new Eldorado West in the exclusive
ELDORADO COVE
Expeditions On a street of greatest prestige—drive from the Shadow Moun-
tain Golf Course straight through the finest golf course area on
the desert, on to Eldorado and Indian Wells. All lots with
underground utilities.
KEN SLEIGHT, GUIDE
ESCALANTE, UTAH
HAL KAPP - TED SMITH 74-004 Highway 111
Palm Desert, California
DESERT PROPERTY CONSULTANTS-Developers and exclusive agents Fireside 6-6113

MARCH
PHOTO
CONTEST
WINNERS
CHRISTMAS DINNER Richard Sykes Santa Monica, Calif.

While camping in Death Valley Christmas Eve Richard Sykes saw a Kit
Fox dart between the Mesquite. With only a Coleman Lantern as a
First Prize
light source "I spent three hours baiting the fox with filet and my next
days lunch. Each time he came up I clicked the shutter guessing at
exposure then he would dart away." DATA: Old Exacta with 2.8 lens
Plus X, Coleman Lantern, l/25th at 12.8. Printed on No. 6 paper
Second Prize
OWACHOMO BRIDGE
Mel Lewis
Salt Lake City, Utah
A twisted tree and a natural
arch graphically illustrate how
the elements have changed the
earth through millions of years.
Taken in the Natural Bridges
Monument, Utah. DATA: 4x5
Korona, Kodak Ektar lens, Super
*&-*-'.' XX film, 1/lOOth at f32.
PHOTO CONTEST RULES

1—Prints for monthly contests must be
black and white. 5x7 or larger, printed on
glossy paper.
2
—Each photograph submitted should
be fully labeled as to subject, time and
place. Also technical data: camera, shut-
ter speed, hour of day, etc.
3—PRINTS WILL BE RETURNED ONLY
WHEN RETURN POSTAGE IS ENCLOSED.
4—All entries must be in the Desert
Magazine office by the 20th of the contest
month.
5—Contests are open to both amateur
and professional photographers.
6—FIRST PRIZE will be $15: SECOND
PRIZE, 8. For non-winning pictures accep-
ted for publication S3 each will be paid.
Although not part of the contest. Desert
is also interest in viewing 4x5 color trans-
parencies for possible front cover use. We
pay $25 per transparency.
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2- S P E E D cruises 85 mph on the highway all day long
3. G R A D E A B I L I T Y only 4-whee! drive that climbs 67% grades
4. H I - L O G E A R I N G 9 forward, 3 reverse gear combinations
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Pickup
TOYOTA UKO CRUISERi

Station Wagon Hardtop
Fully equipped • 12 mo/12,000 mi. warranty. Parts/Service available coast to coast
For further information, write Toyota Motor Distributors, Inc., 6032 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 28, California

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MAGAZINE OF THE WEST

$314,650 IN GOLD NUGGETS FOUND ON DESERT

PALM SPRINGS INDIANS TODAY

DESERT WILD FLOWERS

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DESERT EDITION

Our Reputation Your Guarantee

HOMES * LOTS • RENTALS

Conscientious service to buyer, seller or renter based

March, 1965 Wlanck ... by #ack Peftyet

13 Desert Dazzles Dudes

15 Of Mansions and Myths

23 Where the Wild Palms Grow

27 Artist Reveals Desert's Treasure

30 The Coxcomb's Droopy Angel

32 Trail Above the Tram

46 Letters from our Readers Coachella Valley County Water District

4 / Desert Magazine / March, 1965

Unique and authentic guide to over 100

these men, and their bravery in face

March, 1965 / Desert Magazine / 5

Blow fiercely, desert wind, BY EUGENE McALLISTER

T 'HE WIDE distribution of Indian arrowpoints

it R A I S E S ...it LOWERS •••>*'* HYDRAULIC

8 / Desert Magazine / March, 1965

March, 1965 / Desert Magazine / 9

10 / Desert Magazine / March, 1965

The Sea Below the Sea

March, 1965 / Desert Magazine / 11

12 / Desert Magazine / March, 1965

March, 1965 / Desert Magazine / 13

So, when you come to the desert

Riverside County's oldest school.

Vosburg's early New England hotel.

Of Mansions and Myths

March, 1965 / Desert Magazine / 15

* * • * TWO SPRING ART EXHIBITS . . .

Write to: Selection of Maynard Dixon field sketches.

16 / Desert Magazine / March, 1965

18 / Desert Magazine / March, 1965

March, 1965 / Desert Magazine / 19

near Choral Per>ner

You have my full permission to publish the story and this l e t t e r

More important, I am also enclosing two of the Pegleg nuggets.

Very sincerely yours

The man who found Pegleg's black gold

P.S. If the story is printed, undoubtedly there will be some

March, 1965 / Desert Magazine / 21

The next thing I remember was

Where Wild Palms Grow

According to DESERT Magazine's founder, Randall Henderson, there are

March, 1965 / Desert Magazine / 23

26 / Desert Magazine / March, 1965

A FTER A FEW balmy days in

March, 1965 / Desert Magazine / 27

30 / Desert Magazine / March, 1965

March, 1965 / Desert Magazine / 31

THE TRAIL ABOVE THE TRAM

March, 1965 / Desert Magazine / 33

Deluxe Heavy Duty

it R A I S E S ...it LOWERS •••>' HYDRAULIC